16. Lower Waitaki River tributaries
16.1 Introduction
This chapter summarises the Board's evaluation of the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regimes for the Lower Waitaki River tributaries. 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.
16.2 Plan provisions
The relevant provisions of the Plan are:
- Policies 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 44
- Rules 1, 2, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 24.
16.3 Effectiveness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness of the provisions in the Plan relating to the environmental flow and level regimes for the Lower Waitaki River tributaries are summarised in Table 84 below. In this circumstance, Objectives 1 and 2 are relevant to the evaluation.
Table 84: Effectiveness of the environmental flow and level regimes for the Lower Waitaki River tributaries
| Objective | Provisions | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
The environmental flow and level regimes provide 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, maintain people's appreciation and enjoyment, and safeguard the integrity of the rivers, streams and waterways forming the Lower Waitaki River tributaries. However, this will only be effective if implemented and monitored by the consenting authority in terms of section 68(7) of the RMA. 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. |
Moderate/High |
|
2 |
The allocation limits do not restrict existing resource consents, or replacement resource consents for the same or less amounts of water. Potential for taking water for activities over and above that currently consented is provided for on individual watercourses. 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 limits. |
Moderate |
|
Overall effectiveness |
Moderate/High |
|
16.4 Benefits and costs
The Board's evaluation of the benefits and costs of the provisions in the Plan relating to environmental flow and level regimes for the Lower Waitaki River tributaries is summarised in Table 85 below.
Table 85: Benefits and costs of the environmental flow and level regimes for the Lower Waitaki River tributaries
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
|
Environmental Natural and physical resources of the rivers, streams, waterways, and wetlands associated with the Lower Waitaki River tributaries are maintained. Riparian and wetland values will be maintained by providing for connectedness of flow, particularly the braided sections of the Maerewhenua, Otiake, Otekaieke and Kurow rivers providing opportunity for riparian and wetland enhancement. Further, secondary characteristics associated with braided sections of larger rivers (riffles, rapids, pools) will also be maintained and enhanced. The opportunity for people to experience the openness and naturalness of these rivers will be retained and enhanced. Maintains a supportive environment to threatened plant species namely Carmichaelia curta, Carmichaelia vexillata. 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 Maerewhenua 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 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 Maintains and enhances recreational values, namely angling, sightseeing, and swimming, 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 values of the Lower Waitaki River tributaries are maintained and enhanced. 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. Reduced secondary social wellbeing effects 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 |
16.5 Efficiency
Following the consideration of the benefits and costs of the provisions relevant to the environmental flow and level regimes, it is the Board's judgement that the provisions are of high efficiency.
16.6 Appropriateness
The Board's evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental flow and level regimes for the Lower Waitaki River tributaries is summarised in Table 86 below.
Table 86: Summary of the effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental flow and level regimes for the Lower Waitaki River tributaries
| Effectiveness | Efficiency | |
|---|---|---|
|
Environmental flow and level regimes |
Moderate/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 Lower Waitaki River tributaries are the most appropriate way to achieve the objectives of the Plan.
