Plan change 6A includes rules for controlling contaminants and sediment coming off rural properties into waterways from runoff, leaching and drains (non-point sources).
The plan change also includes controls on works in waterways, such as drain clearing, stock crossings, culverts and bridges.
The rules covering these areas aim to ensure good quality water in rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers.
Rules that affect you now
- Work in waterways, building stock crossings, culverts and bridges
- Prohibited effluent discharge rules
- Prohibited sediment discharge rules
- The differences between Schedule 15 and Schedule 16, click here.
Rules that will apply in 2020
- Nitrogen loss limit rules
- Discharge threshold rules
Making the plan work for you
We are working with Federated Farmers, Fonterra and Otago Regional Council to ensure that the rules in the plan are implemented in a practical way, and that good advice is available for farmers.
Find out what you need to do here.
For more information on what’s happening in Otago contact Justin Kitto, DairyNZ's water quality specialist, justin.kitto@dairynz.co.nz 027 702 9832.
Managing dairy effluent in Otago
Effluent discharge to land is a permitted activity under the Otago Water Plan. This means you don’t need a consent to discharge effluent to land in Otago, but you will need to comply with the council’s conditions.
Prohibited rules for effluent discharges (including silage and composting leachate)
The Otago Water Plan prohibits the discharge of effluent from any animal waste system to:
- any lake, river, or regionally significant wetland, including their bed, or a drain or water race that goes to these waterways or the coast
- saturated land
- land if it results in ponding
- land, if it results in an overland flow to waterways or the coast, or to a drain (open or mole and tile drain system) or water race that goes to waterways
- any bore or soak hole
- land within 50 metres of any lake, river, or regionally significant wetland, bore or soak hole.
Read the ORC factsheet on effluent here.
How can you be sure that you comply with the rules?
One way is through getting an effluent "Warrant of Fitness" (WOF) assessment of your effluent system. This is a voluntary programme that helps you understand all the requirements to make sure your system is fit for purpose and capable of being compliant 365 days a year. You will receive a brief report with practical actions. The assessment is carried out by a trained and certified independent professional and takes three to four hours. Find out more at www.effluentwof.co.nz.
