A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Gisborne District Counci’s freshwater planning has been impacted by severe weather events and policy changes made by the new Government.
A report to a full council meeting said staff working on the the Waiapu Catchment Plan were procuring technical assessments to build a “substantive evidence” base for the policy development.
Progress had been resumed following diversion of council resources to recovery efforts for the Mōtū Catchment Plan, where “we expect to publicly notify the plan in mid-2024”.
Staff have held good discussions with Te Aitanga a Hauiti on the Ūawa Catchment Plan.
The Southern Tairāwhiti (Hangaroa – Ruakituri) and the Wharekahika – Waikura catchments are expected to start engagements no later than this year.
New government policy includes the repealing of the Natural and Built Environment Act (NBEA) and Spatial Planning Act (SPA) that were in force from August 24 last year.
In December, the Government announced its intention to replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and gave all councils a three-year extension of December 31, 2027, to publicly notify their freshwater planning instruments.
The Government plans to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 to change how the Te Mana o te Wai (or mana of the water, a concept recognising the vital importance of clean and healthy water) hierarchy of obligations is applied to individual consent applications.
This means consent applicants will not have to demonstrate how their individual activity adheres to the hierarchy, and consent authorities will not be able to consider the hierarchy of obligations in their decision-making.
Under the RMA, all regional councils are required to prepare freshwater plans.
Seven water catchment plans in Gisborne contain provisions managing freshwater quality and quantity issues.
The areas are Waipaoa, Mōtū, Southern Tairāwhiti (Hangaroa-Ruakituri), Waimatā-Pakarae, Ūawa, Waiapu and Wharekahika – Waikura.
Councillors were also informed about two scientific reports relating to surface and groundwater take limits.
The findings from the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA) and engineering and project management company Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec (WGA) will be important in the development of new freshwater provisions as part of council’s Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan review.
The NIWA report examines the flow requirements of Te Arai and Waipaoa rivers which are crucial for upholding freshwater values.
The WGA report summarises the Poverty Bay Flats Groundwater Modelling Programme, and provides insights into groundwater dynamics.
The NIWA report emphasises the importance of setting appropriate flows to prioritise the health of water bodies and ecosystems.
Critical low flow management options have been identified as a starting point for making informed decisions to safeguard environmental values.
Groundwater modelling from the WGA report underscores an urgent need for action to mitigate declining groundwater levels, predicting adverse consequences on water quality and ecosystem integrity if left unaddressed.
The council agenda said implications of the findings on water allocation were significant.
“It is critical that changes to flow, level, and allocation limits align with Te Mana o te Wai principles. However, such adjustments may entail reduced water reliability and pose challenges for existing and prospective water users, particularly where water is already over-allocated.”
The current system’s inequities necessitate a more holistic framework that prioritises sustainability and equity.
The report findings presented a critical need for proactive and collaborative freshwater management strategies.
“By leveraging the insights provided by NIWA and WGA, council can navigate the complexities of freshwater governance, ensuring the long-term sustainability and integrity of Tairawhiti’s freshwater resources,” the council’s agenda said.