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Proposed Plan Change 12 (Fractured Rock and Confined Aquifers)

Posted on Friday, 11 November 2011 04:23 p.m.

Pursuant to Clause 5(1), First Schedule, Resource Management Act 1991, notice is hereby given that proposed Plan Change 12 (Fractured Rock and Confined Aquifers) to the Regional Water Plan for Southland has been prepared by Environment Southland.

The purpose of proposed Plan Change 12 is to update the current policy framework contained in the Water Plan by reviewing and adding new provisions regarding the management and allocation of groundwater from fractured rock and confined aquifers, and improving existing management measures for all aquifers. Feedback received during consultation has been taken into account when finalising the proposed plan change for public notification.

The updated plan provisions for the management of fractured rock and confined aquifers, including amendments to Rule 23, contained in proposed Plan Change 12 will take legal effect from the date of public notification in accordance with Section 86B(3)(a), Resource Management Act 1991.

Copies of the proposed plan change and accompanying report are available at:

• public libraries within the region – Invercargill, Bluff, Gore, Mataura, Lumsden, Otautau, Nightcaps, Riverton, Stewart Island, Te Anau, Waiau, Winton and Wyndham;
• Environment Southland’s offices on the corner of North Road and Price Street, Waikiwi, Invercargill;
• the offices of the Invercargill City Council, 101 Esk Street, Invercargill;
• the offices of the Southland District Council, 15 Forth Street, Invercargill;
• the offices of the Gore District Council, 29 Civic Avenue, Gore.

Copies may also be requested by contacting Sue Scott, Customer Services Officer at Environment Southland by email: service@es.govt.nz or telephone: (03) 211 5115 or toll free (within Southland) 0800 76 88 45.

In addition, the proposed plan change may be downloaded from Environment Southland’s website www.es.govt.nz. A link will take you through from the home page to the relevant documents.

Any person may make a submission, in the prescribed form, on the proposed plan change. Submissions must be received by Environment Southland no later than5.00 pm, Friday, 9 December 2011. Submissions may be:

1. delivered direct to Environment Southland’s offices on the corner of North Road and Price Street, Waikiwi, Invercargill;
2. posted to Private Bag 90116, Invercargill 9840;
3. sent by facsimile (03) 211 5252; or
4. emailed to service@es.govt.nz.

Following receipt of submissions to the proposed plan change, the following process for further public participation will be adopted:

• summaries of the submissions will be prepared;
• by way of public notice, advice will be given of the places where the summaries of submissions and the submissions themselves may be inspected;
• any person may lodge a further submission, by a date to be notified, supporting or opposing the submissions lodged;
• Environment Southland will hold a public hearing, for the purpose of allowing those persons who lodged a submission, or further submission in support or opposition, and requested to be heard, to present further material in support of their submission or further submission;
• following the release of Environment Southland’s decisions on the submissions, any person who lodged a submission, or who supported or opposed a submission, who is not satisfied with the Council’s decisions and the changes that may be made to the Regional Water Plan may appeal matters to the Environment Court;
• once all matters appealed to the Environment Court are resolved, the plan provisions will become operative.

Any person wishing to obtain further information, or discuss aspects of the proposed plan change, may write to Private Bag 90116, Invercargill 9840 or telephone Environment Southland’s offices on (03) 211 5115 or toll free (within Southland) 0800 76 88 45.