​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Contact

Search

Freshwater Farm Plans

What is a Freshwater Farm Plan?

A Freshwater Farm Plan is a tool introduced by Government as part of the Essential Freshwater package. It identifies risks to freshwater from farming activities and sets out practical on-farm actions to manage and reduce those risks, improving water quality in local waterways. Actions are tailored to each farm's physical environment, farming activities, and the catchment it's located in.

Wakapuaka Catchment

Progress in Nelson

Nelson farmers are already making good progress in improving freshwater quality. Many belong to catchment groups, have environment farm plans, and are implementing environmental measures. Freshwater Farm Plans will build on the work that many farmers are already doing to identify and manage the risks that farming activities pose to freshwater.

Who will need a Freshwater Farm Plan?

Any farmer or grower with:

  • 50 hectares or more in arable or pastoral use (or mixed)
  • 50 hectares or more in viticulture or orcharding
  • 5 hectares or more in horticulture (other than viticulture or orcharding)
  • Any commercial dairying

What do I need to include in a Freshwater Farm Plan?

Freshwater Farm Plans will need to include information on:

  • The catchment context – This information is provided by Council in the form of a CCCV document
  • Risk identification and impact assessment
  • Actions to reduce risks
  • Meeting the National Environment Standards for Freshwater – Go to the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-F) page or the Freshwater Regulations section with these factsheets
  • Stock exclusion from waterways – How stock will be excluded from waterways to meet the new stock exclusion regulations (NES-F Factsheet - Stock Exclusion Rules (PDF, 126.9KB))
  • Maps – Providing key information about the risk identification and action selection process

For more information: Freshwater farm plans | Ministry for the Environment

When are Freshwater Farm Plans being rolled out in Nelson?

Currently, the rollout of Freshwater Farm Plans is on hold under direction from Central Government. While it's been indicated that Freshwater Farm Plans will remain, the timing of implementation is paused until there's more clarity. We will communicate any changes once they're known.

Go to the Freshwater Farm Plan regulations on the NZ Legislation website

Freshwater Farm Plan process

Council is currently working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth rollout for Nelson farmers. This includes collecting catchment information for the CCCV and providing access to the maps and data that might be needed to complete a Freshwater Farm Plan.

What is CCCV?

CCCV stands for Catchment Context, Challenges, and Values. As each Freshwater Farm Plan is tailored to the individual farm's physical environment, farming activities, and the catchment it's in, the CCCV provides the catchment-level information that Freshwater Farm Plans require.

The CCCV is a collection of information about the catchment where you farm. It includes:

  • Existing information on landforms, soil and climate data, freshwater data, freshwater bodies, contaminants, sites of significance to the local community, and significant species or ecosystems
  • Matters of importance to tangata whenua, including the cultural significance of the local area, traditional names of freshwater bodies, and sites and species of significance to tangata whenua (where available)
  • Freshwater rules and policies from relevant legislation such as the proposed NRMP, the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM), and the RMA
  • What the community values and their visions for the catchment

This information will help you understand the environmental features, current environmental health, cultural values, freshwater priorities, and special recreational sites in each catchment.

Council's role

Council is currently collecting the data and information that farmers will need to complete Freshwater Farm Plans. As the rollout of Freshwater Farm Plans in Nelson gets closer, Council will update this page with relevant information.

If you have any questions, please contact a Catchment Advisor at healthystreams@ncc.govt.nz

More information: Freshwater farm plans | Ministry for the Environment


Useful Links

Share this page

Sharing...