Hinds water plan now operative

Environment Canterbury made the Hinds Plan Change, Plan Change 2 to the Land & Water Regional Plan, operative on 1 June 2018.Councillor Peter Skelton said the Hinds/Hekeao Plains area is one of the most productive in Canterbury, but water resources are showing signs of stress, nitrogen levels are increasing, and water availability is decreasing.The Plan Change sets limits, targets, timeframes and additional policies and rules on water quantity and quality in the Hinds/Hekeao Plains area.A schedule lists farm management practices relating to nutrient management, winter grazing of intensively farmed stock, cultivation and collected animal effluent.“All farmers in the area need to be implementing good management practices,” Professor Skelton said.“Nitrogen losses over 15 kilograms per hectare per year will require a land use consent. Land users may increase nitrogen losses up to 15 kilograms per hectare per year without requiring consent however.”More information on the Hinds Plan Change can be found hereMore information on good management practices is available hereMore information on the Land & Water Regional Plan, including new rules on nutrient management, can be found here