National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2017
Implementation Programme
The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPSFM) directs every Regional Council to implement the NPS as promptly as is reasonable in the circumstances by no later than 31 December 2025, with an extension to 31 December 2030 in special circumstances.
Every Regional Council must make or change their RPS and regional plans to the extent needed to implement the NPSFM. See here for the NPSFM Progressive Implementation Programme.
Regional Implementation Strategy 2018
In early 2016, in response to increasing awareness that more needed to be done to give effect to the requirements of the NPSFM, an implementation team was formed. Consisting of staff from Resource Science (hydrology and water quality), Consents and Compliance and the Planning departments of the Council, the team drafted the NPSFM – Regional Implementation Strategy which was approved by Council in May 2018. Six Freshwater Management Units (FMUS) have been identified in the strategy for the West Coast.
Regional Implementation Strategy 2019
In response to feedback at the Buller Community Information session the implementation team took a recommendation to Council for approval to combine the community groups for the Buller, Inangahua and Paparoa FMUs. This report can be found under the Council meeting documents. The recommendation was approved in May 2019. The implementation strategy has been amended accordingly and will go through final sign off at the June 2019 council meeting.
Freshwater Management Units (FMUs)
Freshwater Management Units have been identified across the West Coast region in order to effectively manage water resources in different areas where issues and community values may vary. These are:
Targets for the West Coast Region
The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (as amended in August 2017) directs all regional councils (including unitary authorities) to set regional targets for swimmable lakes and rivers to improve the quality of fresh water so they are suitable for primary contact more often.
