One Plan - Intensive Land Use Information

The Environment Court's decision following Environmental Defence Society (EDS) and Wellington Fish and Game's declaratory proceedings against Horizons Regional Council was made in March 2017. The declaration focus was on the implementation of rules that reduce leaching of nutrients from farms. The two organisations sought clarification around assessments of consent applications under intensive land use rules in Horizons’ One Plan. 

While we work our way through the implications of the decision, we have set up this page to house both practical information for those looking to apply for an intensive farming consent, and governance/communication information related to the Court's findings, such as Council papers, media releases, eNewsletters and helpful guides.
 

For more information on One Plan changes and reviews

Intensive Land Use Consents - Implementation Information

On the 3rd of April, Horizons received the Environment Court's decision on Wellington Fish & Game and the Environmental Defence Society’s application for declarations. The focus of the declarations was on the implementation of rules in the One Plan that require resource consents for intensive farming activities (Rules 14-1 to 14-4 of the One Plan, covering land use and associated discharges). 

Many of you may be nervous about what this ruling means for the intensive farming resource consent process as it applies to you, whether you have already been granted consent, you have a current application that has been lodged with Horizons, or you have yet to apply for an intensive farming consent.

The declarations issued by the Court have no direct effect on intensive farming consents that have already been granted. Those consents, and their conditions, remain valid. Farmers with existing consents should continue to work to the conditions of their consents.

However, the declarations do have a direct impact on the way the Council must process and consider consent applications from the date of the Court's decision, and as a result this page now contains documents that will provide guidance to those looking to apply for a resource consent for intensive farming activities. 

Target Catchment Map - All Areas
Upper Manawatū Sub-Catchment Map
Mangatainoka Sub-Catchment Map
Lake Horowhenua Catchment Map
Coastal Rangitīkei Catchment Map

One Plan FAQs

Download

Statutory Provisions

Download

Intensive Farming Overview Guide

Download

Mitigating Nutrient Loss

Download

Intensive Farming - Application Guide

Download

Consent application guide for intensive farming

This guide will help to assist applicants and their technical advisors in the preparation of resource consent applications for intensive farming activities under the Horizons One Plan.

Ready to apply for a resource consent?

Nutrient Management Plan Template

Download

Nutrient Management Plan Template

This document is the suggested template for a Nutrient Management Plan.  The template is designed to provide the information required in an NMP, but also minimise repetition from the information required in the application forms.  Please contact the Rural Advice Team on 0508 800 800 for an editable copy. 

Relevant Council Papers/Documents

  1. Strategy and Policy Committee (12/4/17): One Plan Evaluation Report: Nutrient Management and Water Quality
  2. Environment Committee (11/4/17): One Plan Implementation Dashboard
  3. One Plan Implementation Dashboard Document
  4. Environment Committee (8/8/17): One Plan Implementation Dashboard 
  5. One Plan Implementation Dashboard Document
  6. Strategy and Policy Committee (9/8/17): Implementation of Intensive Land Use Rules
  7. Strategy and Policy Committee (12/8/17): One Plan Evaluation Report
  8. The One Plan - Discharges to Land and Water
  9. Correspondence to Wellington Fish and Game
  10. Planning opinion on consenting pathways for intensive farming: Horizons One Plan
  11. Memorandum from van Voorthuysen Environmental Ltd on Intensive Farming Land Use Activities
  12. Memorandum from van Voothuysen Environmental Ltd on RDA Consent Forms and Guidance Documents
  13. The feasibility of nutrient leaching reductions within constraints of minimum impact on the profitability and production of five dairy farms in Horizons Region
  14. An Impact Assessment of One Plan policies and rules on farming systems in Horizons Region 
  15. Strategy and Policy Committee (11/10/17): One Plan Update
  16. Correspondence to Wellington Fish and Game, and the Environmental Defence Society (EDS)
  17. Strategy and Policy Committee (14/11/17): One Plan Change Pathways
  18. Strategy and Policy Committee (14/11/17): Annex A Notes on the derivation of One Plan Table 14.2
  19. Strategy and Policy Committee (14/8/18): Programme for addressing intensive land use rules
  20. Strategy and Policy Committee (11/11/18): Plan Change 2 Process
  21. Strategy and Policy Committee (30/10/18): Confirmation of Plan Change 2 Process
  22. Strategy and Policy Committee (26/2/19): Next Steps: Freshwater Planning

 

Media Releases

November 2017 - Short and long-term One Plan change pathways to be investigated
October 2017 - One Plan intensive farming rules continue to be reviewed
April 2017 - Horizons' One Plan decision to be considered
August 2017 - Intensive Farming decision results in One Plan change proposal
August 2017 - Intensive Farming decision results in One Plan change proposal
October 2017 - One Plan intensive farming rules continue to be reviewed
September 2016 - Horizons' One Plan implementation review process