Action for Healthy Waterways will require every farmer to have a farm plan to manage risks to fresh water by 2025, extends rules on the exclusion of stock from waterways and sets new standards for intensive winter grazing.
Regional councils will have until 2025 to implement a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater and till then the Government proposes tighter controls on land-use intensification and the introduction of interim measures to reduce nitrogen loss within five years in identified catchments with high nitrate or nitrogen levels.
Those catchments are in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Tasman and Southland.
Rules around land use intensification mean from June next year new irrigation and conversion to dairying will be allowed only where there is evidence it will not increase pollution.
Waterways greater than a metre wide will have to be fenced with setbacks of up to 5m, though where the setback will be measured from is up for discussion.
The Government estimates the extra fencing alone will cost $600 million over 10 years.
Restrictions on winter grazing could come into effect from 2021 and farmers will require resource consent if the area to be grazed exceeds still to be accepted thresholds for area, distance from waterways, pugging and slope.
Vegetable growers also face restrictions if they plan to increase their area.
The document is open for discussion and consultation.
