Proposed Environmental Outcomes

Proposed Environmental Outcomes for the Wairau FMU

Eighteen values have currently been identified for the Wairau 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 Wairau FMU.

1. Ecosystem Health – The five biophysical components that 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, wetlands and groundwater 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, tubing, kayaking, boating, jet boating, jet skiing, fishing, mahinga kai and food gathering, surfing at the Wairau Diversion.
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 identified for the Wairau 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 Wairau River (from source to Bull Paddock Stream), the Branch River (above the weir), the Leatham and the Goulter Rivers are protected. The high natural character of the Upper Wairau River between Bull Paddock Stream to Branch River, Wye River, Top Valley Stream, Onamalutu River and Taylor River above the dam are protected.
6. Drinking water – Groundwater quality and quantity of the Wairau Aquifer and other freshwater bodies withing the Wairau FMU are sufficient for water to be taken and used for drinking water supply for communities within the Wairau FMU including Blenheim, Renwick and Wairau Valley municipal supplies, with minimal treatment to meet Drinking Water Standards. Groundwater quality and quantity within the Tuamarina Catchment is sufficient for water to be taken and used for drinking water supply for the Picton and Waikawa municipal supply situated in the Marlborough Sounds Complex FMU, 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. Transport and Tauranga waka – Part of the FMU is navigable for identified means of transport and places are available and appropriate to launch and land waka and watercraft.
9. 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.
10. Hydro-electric power generation – Water quality, quantity, hydraulic gradient and flow rates are suitable for hydro-electric power generation at the Branch River Power Scheme including the Argyle Pond and Waihopai Power Station on the Waihopai River.
11. 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.
12. 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. The South Valleys Irrigation Scheme (SVIS) continues to provide irrigation water to horticultural, farming and rural residential properties within waterbody and freshwater ecosystem limits.
13. Commercial and Industrial use – Water quality is suitable for commercial and industrial use activities, with allocation related to efficient use requirements supporting economic opportunities for people, business and industries, including in including the Riverlands and Cloudy Bay Industrial Estates, within waterbody and ecosystem limits.
14. Recreation and Amenity – The outstanding natural features and landscape of the upper Wairau River Valley are protected. The Wairau River and its margins including Spring Creek High Amenity Landscape, and the Wairau Dry Hills Amenity Landscape and the Outstanding Natural Feature of the Wairau Lagoons 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, picnicking, and four-wheel driving, except in circumstances where public health and safety, ecological or cultural values are at risk.
15. Access – Public access to waterbodies and their margins easily accessible to the community including Taylor River, Wairau River, Waihopai River, Omaka River, Spring Creek 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.
16. Groundwater – The quality and quantity of groundwater in the Wairau FMU is protected and enhanced. The interconnectedness of the Wairau River recharging the Wairau Aquifer and resulting in the Wairau Plain Springs is recognised and protected, maintained and enhanced. Integrated management is occurring to maintain and enhance the Wairua River, Aquifer and Springs system.
17. Flood Management – Rivers are performing their natural function of moving water from the headwaters and land to the ocean, particularly when in flood. Wetlands assist in minimising flood damage together with river channels clear of weeds and debris. Flood protection schemes and active management reduce the risk of flooding hazard.
18. Gravel – Gravel resources are managed as part of flood management to reduce flood damage as well as supporting economic opportunities except where ecosystem health, natural values and cultural values are adversely affected, in particular with consideration of the recharge area.

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