Proposed Environmental Outcomes

Proposed Environmental Outcomes for the Awatere FMU

Fourteen values have currently been identified for the Awatere FMU. Combining those values with the visions and aspirations gathered in the first round of community engagement, the following environmental outcomes are currently proposed for the Awatere FMU.

1. Ecosystem Health – The five biophysical components the contribute to freshwater ecosystem health are managed.
   1. Water quality – Freshwater quality supports and sustains healthy waterbodies and their freshwater ecosystems.
   2. Water quantity – Waterbody flows and levels, including variability, supports and sustains healthy waterbodies and their freshwater ecosystems.
   3. Habitat – The extent, form and structure of waterbodies including their bed, banks and margins are maintained, protected and enhanced, including riparian vegetation. Restoring, retaining and maintaining connections to and between channels, floodplain and wetlands including refuges to enable recolonisation following disturbance.
   4. Aquatic Life – Waterbodies and their margins support and sustain abundant, healthy and diverse biota, including microbes, invertebrates, plants, fish and birds. Indigenous ecosystems are thriving, and populations are resilient to disturbance including changing climatic patterns.
   5. Ecological Processes – Healthy functioning ecological process occur in waterbodies and their margins, including primary production, nutrient cycling, trophic connectivity as well as life cycle functions such as feeding, migration, reproduction.
2. Human contact - Waterbodies can be enjoyed and are safe for people to connect with through a range of recreational activities, particularly near the State Highway 1 bridge, including swimming, kayaking and jet boating, when flows or levels are suitable.
3. Threatened Species – Habitats of threatened species and conditions necessary to support the presence, abundance, survival, and recovery are protected and improved. Habitats for species specifically identified for the Awatere FMU are protected and enhanced.
4. Mahinga kai – Kai is safe to harvest and eat and the mauri of the place is intact. Customary resources are available for use, with customary practices able to be exercised to the extent desired, and tikanga and preferred methods able to be practised. Transfer of knowledge can occur including the species / resource location, harvesting, preparation, storage and cooking of kai.
5. Natural form and character – The very high natural character of the Upper Awatere River is protected. Other highly valued natural qualities and characteristics of riverine and other waterbodies within the Awatere FMU including exceptional, natural, or iconic aesthetic features are protected.
6. Drinking water – Black Birch Stream water quality and quantity is sufficient for water to be taken and used for drinking water supply, with minimal treatment to meet Drinking Water Standards. Allocation of water for domestic and community water supplies is prioritised over other water uses.
7. Fishing – Whitebaiting at the mouth of the Awatere River is sustainable, being in sufficient numbers to maintain a thriving population and are safe to be eaten.
8. Animal Drinking water – Drinking water for farmed animals is safe and palatable, being available to meets the needs of farmed animals, including allocation during droughts to provide for animal welfare.
9. Irrigation / Cultivation / Production of food and beverages – Within waterbody and freshwater ecosystem limits, water is available to support irrigation needs for the cultivation of food and beverage crops, the production of food from farmed animals, non-food crops such as fibre, and pasture. Allocation is based on efficient use requirements.
10. Commercial use – Black Birch Stream water quality is suitable for commercial requirements, with allocation related to efficient use requirements supporting economic opportunities for people and business within waterbody and ecosystem limits.
11. Recreation and Amenity – Access to Tapuae-O-Uenuku via the Hodder River is maintained. The Upper Awatere Valley and the Awatere River high amenity landscape, including the Rangitahi / Molesworth Recreational Reserve is protected. Waterbodies are desirable to be close to and access to waterbodies and their margins is maintained and enhanced, supporting opportunities for recreational activities to take place close to waterbodies, including walking, biking, picnicking, camping, and four-wheel driving, except in circumstances where public health and safety, ecological or cultural values are at risk.
12. Water Storage – Water storage is available within waterbody and freshwater ecosystem limits to improve water quality through settlement and enable irrigation of crops during times of low flows and dry conditions.
13. Gravel Management – Gravel resources are managed to support economic opportunities except where ecosystem health, natural values and cultural values are adversely affected.
14. Fossil Hunting / Geology – Access to waterbodies and their margins is maintained and enhanced, supporting opportunities to explore and investigate fossils and geology, subject to landowner permission if access over private land is required and except in circumstances where public health and safety, ecological or cultural values are at risk.

Environmental outcomes, values and visions are all interlinked. A table showing these linkages is below: