FEMP extension for CHB landowners

The green areas show the properties in the Tukituki catchment with a completed a Farm Environment Management Plan, while the orange areas are those with one in progress.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council is giving CHB landowners who do not have a Farm Environment Management Plan (FEMP) in place a small grace period to become compliant.

One of the first regulations to come into effect under Tukituki Plan Change 6, any landowner with 10 or more hectares in the Tukituki catchment was required to have an FEMP in place by May 31.

Landowners with between 4ha and 10ha also need a FEMP, unless they are confirmed as a low-intensity operation.

But just days before last week's deadline was reached, the regional council announced it would be again contacting non-compliant landowners and giving them until June 29 to produce a satisfactory response to the farm plan requirement.

After this date, the council said it would be considering enforcement action or prosecution proceedings. Regulation manager Liz Lambert urged landowners who had not yet contracted a farm plan provider to make it a priority.

"We've been clear and consistent on the need for farm plans with the 1100 affected Tukituki properties," Ms Lambert said.

More than 75 per cent of the Tukituki catchment is now covered by an FEMP, with 590 farm plans or low intensity confirmations competed, and a further 150 in progress.

"That's great news, but not enough," Ms Lambert said. "Our efforts now turn to non-compliant landowners who have no excuse not to act, or require us to." She said there were 360 plans or low intensity confirmations still to be done.

"I want to thank and acknowledge the early work of hundreds of landowners in Central Hawke's Bay, working with approved Farm Plan providers. These farmers, owners and operators have done the right thing by us and the environment to get their farm plans sorted," Ms Lambert said.

The regional council said its land management team had been behind a concerted effort in Central Hawke's Bay and the lower Tukituki catchment to support farmers and other landowners to obtain farm plans.

Any landowner who still needs to complete or start the process for a Farm Plan can get more information at hbrc.govt.nz, search: #farmplan