Te Rūnanga o Awarua, Department of Conservation, Environment Southland

Public notice is hereby given pursuant to S.95A of the Resource Management Act 1991 that the following application for resource consent under sections 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the RMA has been received by Environment Southland.

A hearing was held at 9am from 29 to 31 July 2025 at Environment Southland, Cnr North Rd & Price St, Invercargill.

The application (reference APP-20242456) is for the periodic opening of the Waituna Lagoon, which includes the following activities:

- Water and Discharge Permits for:

• The diversion and discharge of water and sediment from Waituna Lagoon to the Coastal Marine Area (CMA)
• The diversion and discharge of seawater and sediment from the CMA into the Waituna Lagoon

- Land Use and Coastal Permits for:

• Earthworks and disturbance of the bed of Waituna Lagoon and margins
• Disturbance of the CMA
• Incidental indigenous vegetation clearance

Purpose: to establish a regime for the management of water levels in the lagoon. The proposed regime utilise a combination of water level, ecological, water quality and fish passage triggers and thresholds over a 20 year term to guide lagoon openings.

Location: Waituna Lagoon - as described in Appendix D of the application

Legal Description of Property: Section 29 Block XIII Oteramika HUN & Coastal Marine Area

Address for Service: Lisa Thorne on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Awarua, Department of Conservation, and Environment Southland, email: lisa.thorne@taylorplanning.co.nz

Full details of this application are also available for inspection at Environment Southland, corner of Price Street and North Road, Waikiwi, Invercargill during working hours (8.00 am to 5.00 pm). Enquiries may be directed to Danielle Petricevich by phone to (03) 211 5115 or by email to Danielle.petricevich@slrconsulting.com or resourceconsents@es.govt.nz.

Submissions on the above application must be received by Environment Southland no later than 5.00 pm 3 September 2024. A submission form is available below and you may also download a printable submission form and forward the completed form by email to service@es.govt.nz or esconsents@es.govt.nz

Any person may make a submission on the application, but a person who is a trade competitor of the applicant may do so only if that person is directly affected by an effect of the activity to which the application relates that:

(a) adversely affects the environment; and

(b) does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

Submissions must be dated and signed (unless submitted electronically) and must include the following information:

• your name, postal address and telephone number (and fax number if applicable);
• details of the application in respect of which you are making the submission;
• whether it is in support of, or in opposition to the application, or is neutral;
• your submissions, with reasons;
• the decision that you wish Council to make; and
• whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission;

and you must also serve a copy of your submission on the applicant as soon as reasonably practicable.