Proposed Environmental Outcomes

Proposed Environmental Outcomes for the Waiau-toa / Clarence FMU

Eleven values have currently been identified for the Waiau-toa / Clarence 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 Waiau-toa / Clarence FMU.

1. Ecosystem Health – The five biophysical components that contribute to freshwater ecosystem health are managed. Healthy habitats and freshwater ecosystems are found in the rivers, streams, lakes, tarns and wetlands in the Waiau-toa / Clarence FMU including Bowscale Tarn, Lake Sedgemere, Island Lake and Lake McRae. As far as practicable waterbodies free of introduced plant and fish species are being maintained and native species are thriving.
   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, including swimming, paddling, kayaking, fishing, mahinga kai and food gathering, whitewater rafting 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 Waiau-toa / Clarence 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 Acheron River catchment and numerous tarns, lakes and wetlands and the outstanding natural features and landscape of the upper reaches of the Waiau-toa / Clarence including the Rangitahi / Molesworth Recreation Reserve are protected.
6. Wai tapu – The historic well-used system of ara tawhito (trails) connecting coastal settlements through the interior across to the West Coast and to the south, which included resting places, mahinga kai, and burial sites which have special significance to tangata whenua are remembered, preserved and protected. These places are free from human and animal waste, contaminants and excess sediment, with values, features and unique properties of the wai protected. Other matters may also be important such as no mixing of waters of the wai tapu and identified taonga in the wai are protected.
7. Fishing – Where trout and salmon are present, habitat is suitable, including minimum flows, and they are safe to it. Waterbodies free of introduced fish species are protected and remain this way with native species thriving.
8. Animal Drinking water – Drinking water for farmed animals is safe and palatable, being available to meets the needs of farmed animals while protecting waterbodies. Allocation during droughts to provide for animal welfare within waterbody and freshwater ecosystem limits.
9. Irrigation / Cultivation / Production of food and beverages – Within waterbody and freshwater ecosystem limits, water is available to support the production of food from farmed animals, and pasture.
10. Recreation and Amenity – The outstanding natural features and landscape of the upper reaches of the Waiau-toa / Clarence including the Rangitahi / Molesworth Recreation Reserve 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, camping, horse-riding, four-wheel driving, and hunting, except in circumstances where public health and safety, ecological or cultural values are at risk.
11. Access – Public access to waterbodies and their margins is maintained and enhanced, 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: