Takaka freshwater group urges protections for Te Waikoropupū Springs
Tuesday, 23 July 2019
A range of protections have been urged for the landmark Te Waikoropupū Springs in Golden Bay including an exclusion zone to ensure no new bores or water takes within 1km of the main spring.
The recommendation is one of 34 in a package covering the management of freshwater in the Takaka catchments that the Freshwater and Land Advisory Group (FLAG) wants adopted by the Tasman District Council.
The council's environment and planning committee is on Thursday due to formally receive the FLAG document along with a report by Manawhenua Ki Mohua, an iwi-mandated organisation representing Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa in Golden Bay.
In its report, Manawhenua Ki Mohua outlines the freshwater management principles and values it holds, its aspirations for the future and a review of the FLAG work.
However, the council is unlikely to notify any draft plan change to implement the protection suggestions for the springs – or any other recommendations by the FLAG group – until it receives a report on a Water Conservation Order application for the springs and the Arthur Marble Aquifer.
**READ MORE:
* Te Waikoropupū Springs' water conservation order hearing wraps up
* Concerns growing critical modelling software used by regional councils is flawed
* Te Waikoropupū Springs hearing adjourned over challenge to evidence
* Springs campaigners fear council will grant consents**
A Special Tribunal hearing for the Water Conservation Order application was closed in August 2018 and the tribunal members are drafting their report to the Minister for the Environment.
Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the council would wait for that Water Conservation Order application report and consider its implications before publicly notifying any draft Takaka freshwater plan change and implementation plan incorporating the FLAG recommendations.
Meanwhile, council staff would consider the key steps for progressing a plan change.
'We will seek to fully understand the implications to the whole community of the package [recommended by the FLAG],' Kempthorne said. 'We are very grateful to all of the FLAG members for their effort, passion and persistence during this process. They have given a significant amount of time in preparing this report.'
The Takaka FLAG process was started by the council in late 2013. Following its first meeting in early 2014, the group met regularly to discuss freshwater management in the Takaka catchments.
In its report, the group recommends the council adopt 'all the core recommendations in full and draft a plan change and implementation plan based on these recommendations'.
'Or to put it more colloquially – we think we have it about right, please don't mess it up.'
The report says the FLAG members are confident that the issues and views discussed 'represents the spectrum of views in our community'.
'In considering all of these matters, we have used a consensus seeking approach,' the report says. 'Working to consensus means that everyone on FLAG understands why the decision has been reached and is able to live with and support the decision.'
Manawhenua Ki Mohua had provided feedback on the proposed package 'and our values and views align with each other's'.
No cost analysis is included in the FLAG recommendations report.
'We consider council is best placed to engage this work, including consideration of the cost of different implement approaches and how best to achieve affordability for all affected parties,' the FLAG report says.
'We have defined 'what' needs to happen, 'when', 'where' and 'why', and offered our insights into 'how' this can be achieved – we now hand this over to council to make your decisions on our recommendations and develop the implementation – the 'how' – in detail.'
The Takaka FLAG is the first to complete its work. A Waimea FLAG, which is in recess, is scheduled to resume before Christmas.