Waipara Catchment Regional Plan operative from June 16

The Waipara Catchment Environmental flow and Water Allocation Regional Plan and Plan Change 5 to the NRRP (previously variation 17) will become operative from June 16, 2012, following a resolution by the Environment Canterbury Council of Commissioners at the meeting on May 31.

The Waipara Plan was developed to promote the sustainable management of rivers and groundwater in the Waipara catchment. Although it is a stand-alone plan, it will replace the water allocation planning rules for the Waipara catchment in the Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan.

The Waipara Plan was notified in April 2010 after six years of community and stakeholder consultation. Seventy submissions were received on the plan by the closing date of June 14, 2010, and a further 20 after the summary of decisions was notified on August 7, 2010.

A hearing panel appointed by Environment Canterbury received and considered these submissions and held public hearings in April and August 2011.

Under the Environment Canterbury Temporary Commissioners Act (2010) the Waipara Plan was subject to appeals only on points of law to the High Court.

Te Rūnanga O Ngāi Tahu appealed to the High Court on November 14, 2011 but this was resolved by agreement with Environment Canterbury and the appeal withdrawn.

The period for appeals on the Waipara Plan has now passed meaning Environment Canterbury is able to approve the Plan as operative from June 16.