Plan Change 7 Report – 18 September Update

Thank you to those Shareholders who attended the August WIL PC7 meetings and workshops. Your feedback formed part of WIL’s submission that was lodged with Environment Canterbury on 13 September 2019. You can read WIL’s submission here (PDF Download 1,745KB)

Hearings will be held in 2020, this is when WIL (and other submitters) get an opportunity to provide detailed evidence in support of their submission. WIL is now preparing this evidence which builds upon the work already done to date. We will be providing Shareholders with regular updates on progress.

Sub Regional Planning Report – April 2019 Update

Commentary
These are the current workstreams underway
Workstream
Development of draft ‘solutions package’ and brief explanation of reasons. Key messages for shareholders and the community.
WIL background/supporting information (mainly company):
  • Background to WIL and its shareholders.
  • The WIL vision (reinforcing WIL’s position as a core part of the solutions package) – including leadership on irrigation management and wider community, biodiversity, water/flows etc.
  • Managed Aquifer Recharge and Targeted Stream Augmentation initiatives.
  • Relationship with stakeholders.
WIL on farm:
  • ReGen and FEP compliance/audits.
  • Efficiency and good practice initiatives.
Initial technical/supporting work:
  • Farms systems expert:
    • Impact of reductions on WIL shareholders and ability to reduce.
    • Discussion of what is reasonable within the next 10 years.
  • PDP:
    • Basis of the ECan modelling and the possible outcomes that have been predicted (need for flexibility/review in plan provisions).
    • Discussion of the ‘solutions package’ and the extent to which it will deliver the changes being sought in the longterm.
  • Economist – District and Regional economics to explain the value of irrigation and farming to District and Region.
Discussions with other key primary sector stakeholders (to ensure ‘solutions package’ is supported by others).

Waimakariri Land and Water Solutions Programme – December 2018 Update

WIL has been actively involved in representing shareholder interests during the sub-regional planning process from the outset. Throughout this period, WIL have worked closely with the Waimakariri Water Zone Committee (WZC) and have sat on the Stake Holder Advisory Group since its formation in 2016.

In September 2018 the WZC released the Draft Zone Implementation Programme Addendum (ZIPA).  As part of this process, WIL, along with the wider community were invited to provide feedback on the ZIPA.
You can read WIL’s submission here (PDF download 180KB).

The purpose of the ZIPA is to develop a package of freshwater management solutions which best deliver community outcomes addressing environmental, cultural, economic and social concerns. A large part of achieving the targeted outcomes is focused on reducing nitrates across the catchment, and this is the area that has the biggest impact on WIL Shareholders.

For dairying in the Eyre Zone (Nitrate Priority Management Area) the ZIPA is recommending farmers should be achieving a 15% reduction in nitrates beyond baseline GMP by 2030 and further 15% reduction by 2040. Some Shareholders consider that these reductions are a step too far.  In addressing these Shareholder concerns WIL is proposing an “adaptive management approach” (refer to submission).

In the meantime, WIL Shareholders have already made significant steps in reducing nitrates with the introduction of farm plans and the implementation of the Regen project. The Company is also starting to implement a Solutions Package which includes managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and a biodiversity programme.

Next Steps

The WZC submit their final recommendations in late December, and in mid-2019 ECan will release Plan Change 8 for public submission followed by a formal RMA hearing process.

In addition to providing feedback on the ZIPA, and in preparation for the formal RMA process, WIL is undertaking the following workstreams.

  • Complete a comprehensive technical review that will include outline the nutrient reductions that will be achieved by meeting GMP through current and future on-farm activities, and how the Solutions Package will meet ZIPA targets.
  • Outline scheme and on-farm investment and articulate the economic impact of this investment at regional and national level. This will include the cost implications going beyond GMP.

Over the next 12 months the Company will provide regular updates on this site.

For more information visit:

Ecan - whats happening in my water zone / waimakariri water zone/