Proposed Environmental Outcomes

Proposed Environmental Outcomes for the East Coast Complex FMU

Sixteen values have currently been identified for the East Coast Complex 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 East Coast Complex FMU.

1. Ecosystem Health – The five biophysical components that contribute to freshwater ecosystem health are managed. Lake Elterwater and the estuarine Lake Grassmere are celebrated refuges for wildlife.
   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 such as swimming, paddling, kayaking, fishing and mahinga kai and food gathering, in a range of different flows or levels.
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 East Coast Complex 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 high natural character of the Waima / Ure River is protected. Other highly valued natural qualities and characteristics of riverine and other waterbodies within the East Coast Complex FMU including exceptional, natural, or iconic aesthetic features are protected.
6. Drinking water – Flaxbourne River and associated shallow alluvial gravels and the Black Birch Stream situated in the Awatere FMU provide water of sufficient quantity and quality 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. Wai tapu – Places where rituals and ceremonies are performed, or where there is special significance to tangata whenua are free from human and animal waste, contaminants and excess sediment. The features and unique properties of the wai and identified taonga in the wai are protected.
8. Fishing – The Flaxbourne catchment whitebait fishery is sustainable, being in sufficient numbers to maintain a thriving population and are safe to be eaten.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Commercial and Industrial use – Water quality and quantity is suitable for commercial and industrial requirements, with allocation related to efficient use requirements supporting economic opportunities for people, business and industries within waterbody and ecosystem limits.
12. Recreation and Amenity – The outstanding natural feature of the Chalk Range, including Isolated Creek, Sawcut Gorge and parts of the Waima River, is protected. The high amenity landscapes of Lake Grassmere and the eastern end and mouth of the Waima River within the Wharanui coastline are protected. Waterbodies are desirable to be close to and access to waterbody margins is maintained and enhanced, supporting a range of 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.
13. Water Storage – Water storage is available within waterbody and freshwater ecosystem limits to enable irrigation of crops during times of low flows and dry conditions.
14. Flood Management - Rivers are performing their natural function of moving water from the headwaters and land to the ocean, particularly when in flood. River channels are clear of weeds and debris especially the Waima / Ure and Flaxbourne Rivers, assisting to minimise flood damage.
15. Gravel Management – Reducing flood damage is assisted by sustainable management of gravel resources, particularly in the Waima / Ure River catchment.
16. 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: