Submissions are invited on Environment Southland’s proposed Southland Water and Land Plan which combines provisions from the Transitional Regional Plan, Regional Effluent Land Application Plan and Regional Water Plan into one document. The plan is available on the Environemnt Southland website.
People can submit on any part of the plan until Monday, 1 August 2016. Submission options:
- Online: www.es.govt.nz
- Email: policy@es.govt.nz
- Mail: Environment Southland, Private Bag 90116, Invercargill 9840
- Deliver: Corner North Road and Price Street, Waikiwi, Invercargill
Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said the main aim of the plan was to address activities known to have a significant impact on water quality such as land use intensification, wintering and stock in waterways.
“We know through our monitoring that there are some areas with declining water quality, and we are seeing increasing pressure on our water resources from water takes. Many of the new provisions in the plan will mean a change in the way water and land in Southland is managed, but now is the time to address these issues,” Mr Phillips said.
The plan includes new provisions for new and increased dairy farming, intensive winter grazing, stock access to water, farm environmental management plans and cultivation.
An information booklet – Shaping the new plan – is available. It outlines how feedback from the engagement period last year was used to help develop the plan.
