Section 36 charges

Horizons is responsible for managing our Region’s natural resources. Currently there are pressures on our freshwater resources - both in terms of its quantity and quality, caused by competing water demands from urban communities, industry, farming, recreation and instream users. Horizons runs an ongoing monitoring and research programme to allocate and manage this resource sustainably. However, this programme does come at a cost.

Horizons is responsible for managing our Region’s natural resources. Currently there are pressures on our freshwater resources - both in terms of its quantity and quality, caused by competing water demands from urban communities, industry, farming, recreation and instream users. Horizons runs an ongoing monitoring and research programme to allocate and manage this resource sustainably. However, this programme does come at a cost.

For this reason, consent holders who take natural water or discharge containments to land or water are required to pay Section 36 (s36) charges. Income from the s36 charges partly funds the service programme, contributing 30 per cent of the programme costs, with the remaining 70 per cent shared between all ratepayers in the Region.

The s36 charges are set by Council via the Annual Plan process and invoices for the next financial year will be sent out in mid January 2016. These invoices include compliance charges for one off inspections e.g. dairy sheds.

If you are a consent holder and are expecting an invoice please check that:

• You are operating under current consents; and

• If have you sold your farm/business recently, that the consent/s have been transferred to the new owners.

If you have any queries, please call Horizons Regional Council on toll free 0508 800 800 to check the status of your consents.