12. Rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment
12.1 Introduction
This chapter summarises the Board's evaluation of the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regimes for the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment. The effectiveness, benefits and costs, and efficiency of the provisions are examined. Consideration is given to the circumstances where there is uncertain or insufficient information, as identified in section 4.2.6 of this report. Based on these evaluations, having regard to effectiveness and efficiency, the Board's overall judgement of whether the provisions are the most appropriate to achieve the objectives is recorded.
When reference is made to rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment those rivers and streams defined in Policy 39 of the Plan are being referred to.
12.2 Plan provisions
The relevant provisions of the Plan are:
- Policies 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 40
- Rules 1, 2, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 24.
12.3 Effectiveness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness of the provisions in the Plan in relation to the environmental flow and level regimes of the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment is summarised in Table 69 below. In this circumstance, Objectives 1 and 2 are relevant to the evaluation.
Table 69: Effectiveness of the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regimes of the streams and rivers in the upper Waitaki catchment
| Objective | Provisions | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
The environmental flow and level regimes provide for the retention of sufficient water in the rivers and streams to sustain the health and protection of their natural and physical qualities, and safeguard the life-supporting capacity of ecosystems. Environmental flow and level regimes enable the provision of water for an individual's reasonable domestic needs, the reasonable drinking-water needs of an individual's animals, and for fire-fighting needs. Implementation will occur through the consideration of resource-consent applications as either a discretionary or non-complying activity. Implementation of the environmental flow and level regimes requires the Canterbury Regional Council to review existing resource consents in terms of section 68(7) of the RMA - such a review is at the discretion of the Canterbury Regional Council. |
High |
|
2 |
The allocation limits do not restrict existing resource consents, or replacement resource consents for the same or less amounts of water. Limited potential for taking water for activities over and above that currently consented is provided for, particularly from the Twizel River, Fork Stream and Grays River (and their tributaries). Essential drinking, stock drinking-water, maintaining fire fighting capacity and the processing of perishable produce are not restricted by the minimum flows and flow-sharing requirements. Micro hydro-electricity generation and fisheries and wildlife activities are exempt from the allocation limit. Any water within the environmental flow and level regime is available for hydro-electricity generation in downstream hydro-electricity generation stations. |
Moderate |
|
Overall effectiveness |
High |
|
12.4 Benefits and costs
The Board's evaluation of the benefits and costs of the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regimes for the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment is summarised in Table 70 below.
Table 70: Benefits and costs of the environment flow and level regimes for the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Landscape values of scenic rivers and streams are maintained. Wetland habitats and values within the catchments are maintained. Habitat values within the catchments are maintained, including habitat for threatened grasshopper Brachaspis robustus. Habitat and/or spawning areas for native fish species are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
|
Environmental Potential site-specific adverse effects from micro hydro-electricity generation and fisheries and wildlife activities (to the extent not mitigated as per consent conditions). Potential site-specific effects from taking essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and for the processing of perishable produce in times of low flow. |
|
Economic Retains moderate value water for hydro-electricity generation. Provides opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities. Retains economic benefit from existing activities. Provides opportunities to derive economic benefit from micro hydro-electricity generation, essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and the processing of perishable produce. |
Economic Opportunity cost attached to existing activities taking water. Reduced opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities requiring water. |
|
Social Recreational values associated with the rivers and streams maintained. The existence value of rivers and streams is protected. Enhanced opportunities for secondary social wellbeing effects derived from new activities. Retains secondary social wellbeing effects associated with existing activities. Enhanced secondary social wellbeing effects from micro hydro-electricity generation, essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and the processing of perishable produce. |
Social Reduced secondary social wellbeing from existing activities taking water. Reduced secondary social wellbeing from new activities requiring water. |
|
Cultural Recognises the relationship of Ngāi Tahu and their culture and traditions with the Waitaki River, a taonga, and its associated sites and wāhi tapu. Has particular regard to the kaitiakitanga of Ngāi Tahu. Sustains the habitat of mahinga kai species. |
Cultural |
12.5 Efficiency
Following the consideration of the benefits and costs of the environmental flow and level regimes relating to the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment, it is the Board's judgement that the provisions are of high efficiency.
12.6 Appropriateness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of environmental flow and level regimes relating to the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment is summarised in Table 71 below.
Table 71: Summary of the effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental flow and level regimes for the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment
|
Effectiveness |
Efficiency |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment |
High |
High |
Having regard to this information, and taking into account the benefits and costs and the risk of acting due to insufficient information, it is the Board's judgement that the environmental flow and level regimes for the rivers and streams in the upper Waitaki catchment are the most appropriate to achieve the objectives of the Plan.
