Regional Plan Variation 5Protecting Lake Taupo

Natasha HaywardProgramme Manager - On farm Consents

• Background

• Landuse policies & rules

• Wastewater policies & rules

• Progress

• Outcomes / initiatives - rural

Issue: Changes in lake water quality

• Increased nitrogen levels

• Algal growths

• Reduced clarity

• Land use intensification

Why take action ?

• Lake Taupo a national icon

• Important tourist destination • national economic impacts• local economic & social impacts

• Cultural impacts - Tuwharetoa

• Start of the Waikato River – regional

Early consultation• 2000

Tuwharetoa Central Govt Taupo District Council Farmers - Taupo Lake Care Community meetings

• Meetings, media, newsletters

• Options proposed:1. Do nothing

2. Slightly lower quality than now

3. Maintain current water quality

4. Better water quality than now

Pastoral farming (93%)

• Stock urine

Wastewater (7%) – municipal & septic tanks

A new Plan - Variation 5

• Policies and rules to reduce and cap nitrogen inputs – rural and urban

1. Publicly notified 2005

2. Submissions (>100)

3. Council hearing & decision 2007

4. Appeals

5. Environment Court hearing (3-4 weeks) 2008

6. Interim decision Nov 2008

7. Final Decision June 2011

8. Operative 7 July 2011

Regional Plan Variation 5 key aspects

• Key policies• Reduce nitrogen loads from farming & wastewater by 20%,

by 2020Taupo District CouncilLake Taupo Protection Trust (public fund 81 million)

• Key rules• Farming requires consent – Nitrogen discharge allowance &

farm plans• N trading / offsetting rule• Septic tanks near lake edge require consent post 2013

Progress

LTPT removed 100 tonnes (over half way to target)

NDA’s - 97 % pastoral area

Farm/nitrogen management plans - 80% pastoral area

30 farming consents granted + 14 applications

20% N reduction policy for wastewater achieved

Strategy for septic tanks near lake – improvements and consent

Outcomes / initiatives

• Current farming operations well below N cap

• Strategic and innovative Taupo beef brand

• Efficient farm systems

• $ from N & C (ETS)

• Research - other landuses, N leaching

mitigation options

Questions ?

&

Thank you