Feedback Form
How can we improve water
allocation and use?
Bay of Plenty Regional Council is making changes to the way we manage water allocation in the Regional
Water and Land Plan. At the moment the work we’re currently doing is just to get your feedback – it’s an
opportunity for you to tell us what you think about our proposals and influence how the plan may be
changed. We welcome any input you provide. You are not limited to the space on this form and you can
attach additional pages if required. The questions on this form link in with a factsheet about the work. You
can also see the details of how particular issues are dealt with in the draft Region Wide Water Quantity plan
change document. These are available at www.boprc.govt.nz/freshwaterfutures or by calling Carla Gray on
0800 884 881 ext 8352
Contact Information
Name:
Address:
Email:
Phone:
Your sector/interest group (tick all that apply)
 Dairy farmer
 Drystock farmer
 Horticultural grower
 Water permit holder
 Iwi or hapū authority
 Community Group
 Agricultural or Horticultural
Industry (advocacy/support)
 Non-Government
Organisation
 Other: please specify
Specific feedback topics
Providing for existing Municipal Supplies
1
Should existing consents for municipal water supply takes have guaranteed right of renewal?
No municipal water supply takes should NOT have a guaranteed right of renewal.
Municipal water needs to be broken down into its different users and different rights given different users.
Industrial, amenity and recreational users should not have the same rights as domestic users.
In addition there need to be requirements for storage, re-use and efficient use.
2
Are the Water Management Plan requirements in Schedule 7 of the Discussion Document adequate
to ensure that municipal takes are efficient?
During water shortages the different municipal users need to have different prioritisations applied to them
dependent on what their essential use is – e.g. domestic taking priority over industrial but industrial not
taking priority over crop survival and capital root stock survival water.
Improved water efficiency
3
How reasonable is it for all consented takes to have a water meter installed and for all takes
larger than five litres to report water use electronically (e.g. telemetry)?
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Reasonable measuring and reporting for consented takes is supported provided the frequency is reasonable
and cost is not excessive – daily reporting is not practical under ten litres per second. Stepped recording
and reporting requirements depending on use are recommended.
Takes less than ten litres should not have expensive requirements placed on them such as electronic
reporting.
Changes to permitted takes
4
Do you support the reduction in the permitted groundwater limit from 35 m3/day to 15
m3/day?
Before imposing limits the Council needs to have a greater understanding of the groundwater resource.
5
Should permitted activities be registered and, if requested, metered?
Only if the requirements are reasonable – see answer to question 3.
Special provisions for existing dairy shed use and unauthorised irrigators
6
Do you agree with the approach of special one-off provisions for existing dairy shed use?
If not, why not? Do you prefer other solutions (please specify)?
No. One sector should not receive an advantage at the expense of other sectors.
Priorities should be set for times of shortage taking reasonable account of all users based on their absolute
need noting there is a need to ensure crop survival and capital root stock survival.
7
Should the dairy shed take applications be processed on a non-notified basis (without
consultation)?
Only if that applies to all users. All takes up 50 m3/day irrespective of use should be a controlled activity i.e.
without consultation.
8
Do you agree with the approach of special one-off provisions for and unauthorised
irrigators? If not, why not? Do you prefer other solutions (please specify)?
See answer to question 6.
9
To qualify for these special rules, applicants must prove that they had an existing take. In
what ways could an applicant prove that they were an existing water user?
Through crop records and any other records in their possession.
Managing takes at low flows
10
Should other uses be given priority during water restrictions?
Based on reasonable prioritisation but note need water for crop survival and capital root stock survival.
Recreational, amenity and industrial uses need to be given lower priorities.
General Comments
11
Do you have any other comments about the Draft Region Wide Water Quantity Plan Change?
Storage, re-use and efficient use need to become key parts of the Region’s water policies.
Council need to take full responsibility for Iwi consultation so that this is resolved during the Plan Change
providing certainty for those seeking consents etc.
Please return form to:
Draft Region Wide Water Quantity Plan Change Feedback
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Freepost 122076
PO Box 364
Whakatāne 3158
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Or email it to waterquantity@boprc.govt.nz
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