15. Hakataramea catchment
15.1 Introduction
This chapter summarises the Board's evaluation of the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea 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.
15.2 Plan provisions
The relevant provisions of the Plan are:
- Policies 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 43
- Rules 1, 2, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 24.
15.3 Effectiveness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness of the environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea catchment is summarised in Table 81 below. In this circumstance, Objectives 1 and 2 are relevant to the evaluation.
Table 81: Effectiveness of the environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea catchment
|
Objective |
Provisions |
Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
The environmental flow and level regime (including flow variability resulting from the required flow sharing) provides for the retention of sufficient water to sustain the health and protection of the natural and physical qualities, safeguard the life-supporting capacity of ecosystems, and maintain people's appreciation and enjoyment, of the Hakataramea catchment. The environmental flow and level regime in the period April to August recognises important habitat values, including the critical time for sustaining the salmon spawning capacity of the Hakataramea River. The environmental flow and level regime enables 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. The environmental flow and level regime recognises the relationship of Ngāi Tahu and their culture and traditions with the Waitaki catchment, a taonga, and its associated sites and wāhi tapu. The environmental flow and level regime will only be effective if implemented and monitored by the consenting authority in terms of section 68(7) of the RMA. Implementation will occur through the consideration of resource-consent applications as either a discretionary or non-complying activity. |
Moderate |
|
2 |
The allocation limit and flow sharing regime does not restrict existing resource consents, or replacement resource consents for the same or less amounts of water. The environmental flow and level regime in the period September to March provides water for allocation to activities at times of high demand for irrigation. Existing takes and diversions will experience reduced reliability of water. Opportunity is provided for water to be harvested during periods of higher river flow to supplement the water taken by activities during times of restriction. Essential drinking, stock drinking-water, maintaining fire fighting capacity and the processing of perishable produce are not restricted by the minimum flow and flow-sharing requirements. Micro hydro-electricity generation and fisheries and wildlife activities are exempt from the allocation limit. |
Moderate |
|
Overall effectiveness |
Moderate |
|
15.4 Benefits and costs
The Board's evaluation of the benefits and costs of the provisions in the Plan relating to environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea catchment is summarised in Table 82 below.
Table 82: Benefits and costs of the environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea catchment
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Natural and physical resources associated with the Hakataramea catchment are maintained. Existing shallow braided characteristics and secondary characteristics (riffles, rapids, pools, wetlands) associated with the Hakataramea River will be maintained. Riparian and wetland values, particularly at the rivers confluence with the Waitaki River will benefit by maintaining connectedness of flow thereby providing opportunity for riparian and wetland enhancement. Requires that water be kept in-stream irrespective of the flow-sensitivity created by forestry. Feeding and/or roosting and/or breeding habitats for bird life are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
Will support threatened plant species, namely Carmichaelia curta and Teucridium parvifolium. Habitat and/or spawning areas for native fish species are maintained and/or enhanced, particularly for:
Habitat and/or spawning areas for sport fish species are maintained and enhanced, particularly for:
|
Environmental Reduction in natural flow variations resulting in potential adverse effects on physical and ecological conditions of the Hakataramea River:
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 Recognises the opportunity to derive economic benefit from irrigation and horticultural activities in the September to March period. Provides opportunity to derive economic benefit from new activities through water harvesting and storage. 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. |
|
Social Maintains the high recreational values, namely angling, sightseeing, swimming and waterfowl hunting, thereby retaining wide range of recreation choice. Enhanced opportunities for secondary social wellbeing effects derived from new activities. Retains secondary social wellbeing effects associated with existing activities. Existence value of the Hakataramea catchment is increased. Enhanced secondary social wellbeing effects from micro hydro-electricity generation, essential drinking and stock drinking-water, and the processing of perishable produce. |
Social Fewer secondary social wellbeing effects as a result of less water to allocate to existing activities. |
|
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. Recognises the Statutory Acknowledgement for Hakataramea River. |
Cultural |
15.5 Efficiency
Following the consideration of the benefits and costs of the environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea catchment, it is the Board's judgement that the provisions are of moderate efficiency.
15.6 Appropriateness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea catchment is summarised in Table 83 below.
Table 83: Summary of the effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental flow and level regime for the Hakataramea catchment
|
Effectiveness |
Efficiency | |
|---|---|---|
|
Environmental flow and level regime |
Moderate |
Moderate/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 regime for the Hakataramea catchment is the most appropriate way to achieve the objectives of the Plan.
