REFOCUSING ON FRESHWATER OUTCOMES 
Freshwater management is a high priority for everyone. The good news is we are seeing improvement in water quality in our region. However, we believe that continued improvement will be achieved by working together with local communities, to develop a broad based action plan. 

It is time to take stock of the measures we currently have in place to achieve better freshwater outcomes for our region. 

This work will not be focused exclusively on regulation, but on the outcomes our communities want, the change that will be required and agreeing on actions. In time, this work will inform amendments to the One Plan and cover the requirements of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM). 

Freshwater issues are complex. A major part of our review is having conversations with our communities. It's about what we, together with our communities and stakeholders, are doing in particular places to deliver results. We believe this is best achieved through a set of non-statutory catchment plans, more dynamic and integrated than in the past. The first of these catchment processes will start in the second half of 2018.

WHERE TO NOW FOR THE ONE PLAN?
We've learned many lessons about freshwater management since the One Plan was developed. The Plan's intensive land use rules present some practical difficulties, a situation which has created uncertainty that is difficult for everyone. We intend to resolve this as swiftly as possible and are investigating policy options to bring the nutrient management rules into line with the Regional Policy Statement. This may lead to the commencement of a Plan change process later in the year.

STAY UP TO DATE
If you'd like to stay up to date with this process, which we've called Our Freshwater Future, head on over here for more information.  We will be updating this page as progress happens. You can also subscribe to receive the first newsletter.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR WATER USE

With the irrigation season winding down, now is a good chance to look into the way you keep tabs on how much water you are using. Did you know we will install telemetry on your water meter to help track your water use if you are:

• Taking water at a rate greater than 5 litres per second;
• Keeping manual records; and
• You have had your flow meter verified.

Telemetry automatically sends your records to us, which means you will no longer have to submit your water use records manually to compliance.shared@horizons.govt.nz as per your resource consent conditions.

The installation cost and maintenance of the telemetry unit is covered by Horizons. If you would like to set up telemetry on your flow meter, contact either our Catchment Data, or Consents Monitoring teams on freephone 0508 800 800.

For those of you with telemetry installed already, please make sure you have registered for WaterMatters, and read more below. 

WATERMATTERS

We'd like to remind those of you who would benefit from using WaterMatters to complete the registration process in order to access your water data. Approximately 350 landowners have installed telemetry, however only 74 have registered for the recently updated site. 

To do so, click on the picture below and select the 'Register my account' button to complete the quick form. 

Please allow five working days =before wanting to access your data. Once you have filled in the registration form, our staff will match up your details ensuring everything is correct, before allowing your login to view your water data. If you are experiencing problems, or would like some help please call free phone 0508 800 800.

TOP TIP: SPREADING OF EFFLUENT SOLIDS

Please be aware of wind direction and other climactic conditions when undertaking the spreading of feed pad, or other effluent solids material. This issue has been highlighted by an increase in the number of Pollution Hotline calls recently, which have resulted in enforcement action being initiated. As a consent holder you are ultimately responsible for any consent related works being undertaken by either yourself or contractors etc.

If you would like any advice on this please get in touch with our Consents Monitoring team who are more than happy to have a chat and provide guidance.

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT BUDGET REPORTING

We are currently finalising the last of the reporting for the Intensive Farming Land Use consents for the 2016/17 season. This has taken longer than anticipated due to a number of reports being received late. 

Please ensure your nutrient budget reporting is received by Horizons before 31 October each year. 

For some of you, this will be the first year you are required to report since obtaining your Intensive Farming Land Use consent. If you have any questions in relation to this reporting please do not hesitate to contact our Consents Monitoring team on free phone 0508 800 800.

The following graph is a summary of the compliance status for the 2016/17 season, reporting on these Intensive Farming Land Use consents. If you are interested in looking at ways to reduce your nitrogen leaching on farm to ensure you remain compliant, we recommend getting in touch with your farm consultant. Alternatively feel free to contact our Rural Advice team to discuss your options. 

DAIRY MONITORING SEASON UPDATE

The dairy monitoring season for the 2017/18 financial year is still progressing. Overall, 337 dairy farms have been inspected to date. Approximately 185 of these farms being rated as 'Comply - Full' with their consent conditions regarding their farm's effluent discharge.

Farms that have had minor issues to fix on site, or were in the process of complying with their consent conditions were rated either 'Comply' or 'Comply - On Track'. These farms currently account for 96 of the farms monitored this season. 

In terms of farms rated 'Non-Compliant' or 'Significantly Non-Compliant' as a whole, 29 of the total farms monitored this season have been given either of these ratings. 

COMPLIANCE STATISTICS SUMMARY

The trends towards achieving compliance on dairy farms, in terms of effluent management, are generally positive. However, a small number of farms still have some improvements to make. These have been discussed both on site with our staff, and in the monitoring reports issued. If you are not sure of your farm's rating or what improvements are required please get in touch with the relevant Consents Monitoring Officer.

NON-COMPLIANCE INFORMATION

The main issues resulting in non-compliances on farm were;

• Cow numbers over the consent maximum;
• Ponding of effluent on land; and
• Overflows from effluent storage facilities.

If you would like to increase your cow numbers above the consented maximum, you will need to apply for a variation from your consent. Please contact our Rural Advice team on free phone 0508 800 800 to help you through this process. 

When soil moisture levels are high, please ensure you are applying effluent at a very low application rate by increasing the irrigator speed. Alternatively, defer the discharge to the storage facility until soil conditions improve. Please take note of the weather forecast and plan your effluent applications accordingly.

Of the farms that did not comply on the day, several will require follow-up inspections before the end of the season to reassess consent conditions after improvements have been made to effluent systems/management.

Thank you to all the farmers that we have already visited this season to assess compliance. Our staff appreciated your understanding and willingness to work towards achieving compliance with your consent conditions on farm.

As always, we are only a phone call away if you have any questions about anything to do with effluent or water management on-farm. Get in touch on free phone 0508 800 800 or by email at compliance.shared@horizons.govt.nz.