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Regional Plan Variation 5 Protecting Lake Taupo

Regional Plan Variation 5 Protecting Lake Taupo. Natasha Hayward Programme 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

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Regional Plan Variation 5 Protecting Lake Taupo

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  1. Regional Plan Variation 5Protecting Lake Taupo Natasha Hayward Programme Manager - On farm Consents

  2. Background • Landuse policies & rules • Wastewater policies & rules • Progress • Outcomes / initiatives - rural

  3. Issue: Changes in lake water quality • Increased nitrogen levels • Algal growths • Reduced clarity • Land use intensification

  4. 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

  5. Early consultation • 2000 • Tuwharetoa • Central Govt • Taupo District Council • Farmers - Taupo Lake Care • Community meetings • Meetings, media, newsletters • Options proposed: • Do nothing • Slightly lower quality than now • Maintain current water quality • Better water quality than now

  6. Pastoral farming (93%) • Stock urine

  7. Wastewater (7%) – municipal & septic tanks

  8. A new Plan - Variation 5 • Policies and rules to reduce and cap nitrogen inputs – rural and urban • Publicly notified 2005 • Submissions (>100) • Council hearing & decision 2007 • Appeals • Environment Court hearing (3-4 weeks) 2008 • Interim decision Nov 2008 • Final Decision June 2011 • Operative 7 July 2011

  9. Regional Plan Variation 5 key aspects • Key policies • Reduce nitrogen loads from farming & wastewater by 20%, by 2020 • Taupo District Council • Lake 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Questions ?&Thank you

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