Nutrient squeeze to hit Canty farmers

The LWRP and associated sub-regional plans will radically change the way much of Canterbury's intensively farmed land is managed and will severely constrain the ability of many farmers to change land use.

The Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) contains a set of nutrient management rules designed to address water quality issues in the region.

This is the first time a regional plan in Canterbury has regulated the diffuse discharge of nutrients from farming. The nutrient discharge provisions apply to all farmers and will radically constrain intensive farming.

The region is divided into separate zones, each reflecting specific water quality outcomes. Much of the Canterbury Plains is classified as a red zone, which means that water quality outcomes are not met, when assessed against relevant objectives and policies in the plan.

The nutrient management rules focus on estimated nitrogen (N) discharge below the root zone, estimated using the Overseer nutrient management model.

These rules state that all farmers in a red zone, who discharge more than 10kg N/ha/year, will have to operate within their baseline (2009-2013) N discharge figure, until such time as catchment-specific limits are set in a sub-regional plan.

There will be limited scope for intensification using water from irrigation schemes or principal water suppliers who have consents specifying N discharge limits, or by having 'dry' shares in such schemes. Irrigation schemes or principal water suppliers may apply for consents (discretionary activity status) but these will be notified if there is to be an increase in estimated N discharge.

The rules are more stringent for the Lake Zones (catchments surrounding sensitive alpine lakes), with no permitted activities, a focus on limiting N discharge to 10 Kg/ha/year and prevention of any increase above the baseline, even if the estimated N discharge is less than 10kg/ha/year. Requirements are less stringent for orange, green and light blue zones, with allowance for small increases (up to 5kg N/ha/year) above the N discharge baseline and with less demanding Resource Management Act (RMA) activity-status regimes.

The sub-regional plan process, involving catchment-based limit-setting for both water quality and water quantity, is already well under way. The Selwyn Waihora plan is currently in the RMA submission/hearing process, and limit-setting processes for the Hinds catchment (Mid Canterbury), South Canterbury Coastal Streams and Upper Waitaki are all in progress.

The sub-regional plan process will enable the development of catchment-specific outcomes and limits. This may make life easier where there is headroom with regard to nutrient discharge, but may result in clawbacks over time where desired water quality outcomes are not being met. The limit-setting process involves collaboration with local communities, but ultimately sub-regional plans must give effect to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS) and the Regional Policy Statement. (The NPS sets out the values associated with water which must be safeguarded, requires the setting of water quality and quantity limits, and requires that the overall quality of fresh water in a region must be maintained or improved.)

The LWRP and associated sub-regional plans will radically change the way that much of Canterbury's intensively farmed land is managed and will severely constrain the ability of many farmers to change land use. Therefore, it has the potential to impact on land values and the financial viability of farmers.