1. Air quality is maintained in those parts of Auckland that have excellent or good air quality, and air quality is enhanced in those parts of Auckland where it is poor.

2. Air discharges, including PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 (particle pollution, or particulate matter), are reduced to protect public health and amenity, and to meet national and Auckland Ambient Air Quality Standards (AAAQS) in Table 1.

3. Human health, amenity values, property and environment are protected from significant adverse effects of air contaminants.

4. Industrial and rural activities are located within appropriate zones, to recognise the benefits of these activities and provide for them, and to avoid adverse effects from air discharges on human health, property and the environment.

5. Incompatible land uses and activities are adequately separated to avoid or minimise adverse effects of air discharges, and reverse sensitivity conflicts are avoided or minimised.

6. Landuse is managed to avoid or mitigate the adverse effects of motor vehicle emissions on people, especially in respect of children’s health.

1. Protect human health by requiring that air discharges do not cause air quality to exceed the AAAQS in Table 1 for the specified contaminants, and manage the discharge of other contaminants so that the adverse effects on human health, including cumulative adverse effects, are minimised.

2. Manage air discharges from indoor solid fuel burning domestic fires, in urban and future urban areas to prevent domestic fires from causing nuisance to neighbours from odours, particulate matter (PM), fumes, smoke, ash, visible emissions.

3. Manage indoor solid fuel burning domestic fires in rural areas or the CMA so that air discharges do not cause significant adverse effects to people or the environment, including avoiding effects from the discharge of hazardous air pollutants.

4. Manage the air quality amenity in the CMA and urban areas by:

a. avoiding offensive or objectionable odour, dust, particulate, ash, smoke, fumes, overspray and visible emissions

b. avoiding any significant adverse effects from industrial or rural activities air discharges

c. having adequate separation distances and best management practices for industrial or rural activities

d. minimising adverse air quality effects from urban and marine activities.

5. Manage the amenity in rural areas by:

a. avoiding offensive or objectionable odour, dust, particulate, ash, smoke, fumes, overspray and visible emissions that are not of a rural nature or character

b. allowing for minor and localised degradation of amenity only where the discharge is from a rural activity

c. minimising adverse effects of air discharges from rural activities.

6. Manage reduced amenity in the Heavy Industry and Quarry zones in the Unitary Plan and in the Commercial 6 zone, in the Hauraki Gulf Islands section of the Auckland Council District Plan, to support the use and development of that zone by:

a. accepting some reduction in air quality amenity in the above zones, provided any discharge to air is minimised and any discharge of hazardous air pollutant does not cause adverse health effects

b. requiring adequate separation distances to ensure any air discharges that move beyond reduced amenity areas meet the air quality provisions of the adjacent area

c. avoiding activities sensitive to air discharges locating in or adjacent to reduced amenity areas.

7. Maintain adequate separation distances between activities with air discharges and those sensitive to air discharges by:

a. encouraging heavy industry that requires an air discharge consent to locate in Heavy Industry zones and be separated by an appropriate distance of at least 500m from zones providing for activities sensitive to air discharges

b. not allowing new activities with discharges to air that are likely to have adverse effects to locate in zones where activities sensitive to air discharges are permitted activities, unless it can be shown that adverse effects can be avoided, remedied or mitigated and amenity provisions of the zone are met

c. not allowing activities including heavy industry that require air discharge consents to locate in Air Quality Industry Transition overlay, or Light Industry zones, unless it can be shown that adverse effects on activities sensitive to air discharges can be avoided, remedied or mitigated.

8. Avoid industrial air discharges in rural areas and the CMA except where:

a. the activity is location-specific, such as quarries or localised wastewater treatment facilities

b. the activity is significant infrastructure requiring large separation distances that cannot be provided for within urban areas

c. the activity is a rural industry.

9. Require applications for land use consent or designation for a high traffic-generating activity to demonstrate that:

a. Any potential discharges of pollutants to air from vehicles have been assessed using best practice methods such as modelling and monitoring, appropriate to the scale of the discharge and any potential adverse effects

b. the combined concentrations of air discharges arising from the activity and background levels will not cause adverse effects on human health or on regional or local air quality, and will meet the AAAQS in Table 1

c. easy access to public transport is available so that people have an alternative to private vehicles

d. access to and the layout and design of the land use or activity facilitates walking or cycling as a practicable alternative to the use of private motor vehicles for trips to/from the activity.

10. Avoid or minimise adverse effects from motor vehicle emissions on activities sensitive to air discharges by separating these activities from significant motor vehicle emission sources.

11. Require air discharges from outdoor burning, including odour, dust, smoke, fumes, visible emissions and hazardous air pollutants to be:

a. avoided in urban and industrial areas and the CMA

b. minimised in rural areas.

12. Avoid or minimise air discharges by:

a. using best management practices

b. adopting a precautionary approach where there is uncertainty and a risk of serious effects or irreversible harm to the environment from air discharges

c. using best practicable option emissions control at the source of the discharge

d. avoiding air discharges that will cause significant adverse effects.

13. Avoid significant adverse effects from air discharges beyond the boundary of the premises where the discharge is occurring, including:

a. noxious or dangerous effects on human health, property or the environment from hazardous air pollutants

b. offensive or objectionable effects on amenity values from odour, dust, particulate matter, smoke, ash, fumes and visible emissions

c. overspray effects on human health, property or the environment.

14. Require individual sources of any discharge to air to demonstrate where relevant to the discharge type and reasonably practicable:

a. low-emission fuels are used

b. energy is efficiently used

c. best practicable option is used

d. fugitive emissions are minimised

e. risk and adverse effects on people, property and the environment from hazardous air pollutants are avoided

f. the amenity provisions of any zone where the discharge is having an effect are met

g. recognised best-practice management and emission control standards are met

h. there are adequate separation distances to activities sensitive to air discharges

i. significant adverse effects on flora and fauna, particularly where they are food sources or in areas identified as SEAs both on land and in the CMA are avoided.

15. Require large-scale combustion sources with air discharges to:

a. be assessed on an input energy basis so that emissions from different types of combustion sources and their potential adverse effects can be directly compared

b. demonstrate for activities that require discretionary air discharge consent that any adverse effects on aircraft stability and/or safety are avoided.

16. Require waste processes and intensive farming with air discharges to:

a. internalise adverse odour effects within the premises, or on other land under the control of the same owner or occupier as the activity, unless it can be demonstrated that the amenity provisions of the zone into which the activity discharges can be met

b. encourage the reduction, reuse or recycling of waste materials in the process.

17. Assess the effects of air discharges from a premise or site, including all activities that require discharge consents, together to generally grant a single air discharge consent per premise or site.

18. Require applications for activities requiring resource consent for air discharges to:

a. have combined concentrations arising from the air discharge activity and background levels below the AAAQS in Table 1

b. show how the amenity provisions of the zone, and any adjacent zone where there are effects from the activity, are met

c. assess air discharges using best-practice methods, such as modelling and monitoring, appropriate to the scale of the discharge and any potential adverse effects

d. demonstrate best practice management including minimising discharges

e. demonstrate that the chosen method and amount of discharge does not have a practicable alternative that causes less adverse effects

f. demonstrate that the location of the activity and any discharge is suitable to avoid adverse effects on the environment, health and amenity especially on sensitive activities

g. provide details of how the offsets policy will be met, where relevant

h. avoid, remedy or mitigate any cumulative adverse effects

i. demonstrate that any risk to people and property has been adequately avoided or mitigated

j. demonstrate that adequate separation distances are available for the duration of the consent to ensure that adverse effects on health and amenity of activities sensitive to air discharges are avoided

k. assess the potential for reverse sensitivity effects to occur.

19. Carry out monitoring of air quality to ensure adverse effects on human health, property or the environment are adequately avoided, remedied or mitigated and air quality meet nationally and internationally accepted standards and protocols.

20. Use the FIDOL (frequency, intensity, duration, offensiveness and location) method when determining the adverse effects of odour, dust, smoke, ash, fume, overspray or visible emissions.

21. Give effect to the requirements of the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality and to comply with the AAAQS by offsetting new discharges of PM₁₀ or PM_2.5 particulate matter that require consent and will discharge into the Auckland airshed. Offsets must:

a.be required until the Auckland airshed achieves five years without any breach of the AAAQS for PM₁₀ or PM_2.5

b.be for new activities or when emissions from existing consented activities increase

c.be calculated on an annual mass emission basis and be offset on a one-to-one annual mass emission basis

d.be done as close as practicable to where the effects of the discharge occur

e.be for the duration of the consent

f. be treated as having the same health effects irrespective of the source of the PM₁₀ or PM_2.5. There will be no consideration of the particulate composition of the source or offset

g. be undertaken if ground level concentrations exceed 2.5µg/m3 of PM₁₀ or if mass emissions from the premises exceed 4t per year of PM₁₀

h. not consider fugitive emissions or precursors for secondary forms of particulate matter

i. assume that all total suspended particulate (TSP) is PM₁₀ unless demonstrated otherwise.

1.Earthworks are undertaken in a manner that protects people and the environment.

3.Sediment generation from earthworks is minimised.

1. Avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects on the values or sites included in the Natural Heritage and Natural Resource overlays in the Unitary Plan.

2. Manage earthworks to:

a. retain soil and sediment on the land, and not discharge it to water bodies and coastal water by use of best sediment and erosion control practices

b. limit the amount of land being disturbed at any one time, particularly where the soil type, typography and location is likely to result in increased sediment runoff or discharge

c. not create or exacerbate the risk of natural hazards

d. avoid, remedy or mitigate noise, vibration, odour and other amenity effects, traffic and human health effects

e. maintain the cultural and spiritual values of Mana Whenua in terms of land and water quality, preservation of wāhi tapu, and kaimoana gathering

f. minimise the loss of sediment during rain events and its subsequent discharge into surface water bodies and coastal water

g. require the use of best industry practices and standards for on-site sediment treatment or removal methods relative to the nature and scale of the activity to reduce the amount of sediment discharge.

3. Manage earthworks within the 1 per cent AEP floodplain to ensure:

a. they do not exacerbate flooding, either at the site or at any location upstream or downstream of the works

b. there is no significant permanent reduction of waterway area or loss of flood plain storage.

4. Manage the impact on Mana Whenua cultural heritage that are discovered during development or land use by:

a. requiring a protocol for the accidental discovery of kōiwi, archaeology and artefacts of Māori origin

b. undertaking appropriate actions in accordance with mātauranga and tikanga Māori

c. undertaking appropriate measures to avoid adverse effects. Where adverse effects cannot be avoided, effects are remedied or mitigated.

5. Require any proposal to discharge sediment laden water to a surface water body or to coastal water from the undertaking of earthworks for which resource consent is required, to demonstrate that:

a. where the MCI in the receiving river or stream currently meets or exceeds the relevant guideline in Auckland-wide - Water quality and integrated management, Table 1: MCI guidelines for Auckland, the sediment discharge will not result in a long-term deterioration of the MCI

b. where the MCI in the receiving river or stream currently does not meet the relevant guideline in Auckland-wide - Water quality and integrated management, Table 1: MCI guidelines for Auckland, the sediment discharge has been minimised to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable

c. the receiving environment is able to assimilate the discharged sediment after reasonable mixing, with any significant adverse effects being avoided, and other effects remedied or mitigated, particularly within areas identified in the Unitary Plan as being sensitive because of their ecological values, including terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecological values

d. any significant adverse effects on the present use of the receiving waters after reasonable mixing have been avoided, and other effects remedied or mitigated, particularly in areas where there is:

i. high recreational use

ii. relevant initiatives by Mana Whenua, established under regulations relating to the conservation or management of fisheries, including taiāpure, rāhui or whakatupu areas

iii. the collection of fish and shellfish for consumption

iv. areas of maintenance dredging.

1. The ecosystem services and indigenous biological diversity values of vegetation in sensitive environments and areas of contiguous native vegetation cover are recognised and maintained while providing for reasonable use and development.

1. Protect vegetation in sensitive environments including the coast, riparian margins, wetlands and areas prone to natural hazards.

2. Protect areas of contiguous native vegetation cover including extensive areas on land which may be subject to instability and erosion in rural environments.

3. Provide for activities which enhance the ecological integrity and functioning of areas of vegetation including the management and control of plant pests and unwanted organisms.

4. Provide for the operation and routine maintenance of existing activities within areas of existing vegetation.

5. Avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of vegetation removal on indigenous biological diversity and ecosystem services including soil conservation, water quality and quantity management, and the avoidance and mitigation of natural hazards.

6. Minimise vegetation disturbance from activities, works, accessways and building platforms by assessing alternative locations and methods for the proposed works.

7. Recognise and provide for the management and control of kauri dieback as a means of maintaining indigenous biodiversity.

1. Mineral extraction from the land occurs in a way that meets industry and users' needs while environmental and amenity values are protected.

2. Significant adverse effects associated with mineral extraction activities must be remedied or mitigated as far as practicable.

3. Require proposals for new mineral extraction activities in rural areas to provide adequate information on the establishment and operation of the activity and demonstrate:

a. the size and scale of extraction activities, the expected length of operation and the extent of the market to be served from the extraction site

b. the design and layout of the site, the access roads and supporting facilities

c. that adequate measures will be used to:

i. manage noise, vibration, dust and illumination to maintain amenity values of the surrounding land uses, particularly at nighttime

ii. manage adverse effects of traffic generation and maintain traffic safety, particularly measures to manage heavy vehicles entering or exiting the site

iii. avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on soil and water quality, including impacts on watercourses within the extraction site and the effects of discharges from the site into the neighbouring environment.

iv. maintain land stability

v. mitigate significant adverse effects on visual and landscape values

vi. protect the values of identified heritage or archaeological sites, buildings, places or areas, along with Mana Whenua values

d. options anticipated for the rehabilitation of the site, either by a staged process or at the end of the economic life of the quarry, having regard to the expected life of the mineral extraction site.

4. Require a quarry management plan to be prepared to address operational matters associated with mineral extraction, including management of adverse effects and actions to remedy, mitigate or offset these effects.

1. Cleanfills, managed fills and landfills are located, designed and operated in accordance with best management practices in a way that does not adversely affect the environment, including water and the CMA.

1. Avoid significant adverse effects; and avoid, remedy or mitigate other adverse effects on the environment arising from cleanfills, managed fills and landfills by:

a. requiring all accepted waste material disposed of at:

i. a cleanfill site to comply with the definition of cleanfill material

ii. a managed fill site to comply with the definition of cleanfill material or managed fill material

b. avoiding the establishment of cleanfills, managed fills or landfills in, on or adjacent to a lake, river, stream, wetland or the CMA

c. avoiding the establishment of cleanfills, managed fills or landfills that require the piping of a river or wetland

d. avoiding the establishment of cleanfills, managed fills or landfills in, on or adjacent to areas of ONC, ONF, ONL, HNC and SEAs

e. avoiding the placement of cleanfills, managed fills or landfills on land where instability or subsidence of land may occur

f. requiring cleanfills, managed fills and landfills to be designed and operated in accordance with industry best management practices and guidelines.

2. Manage the closure of and closed cleanfills, managed fills and landfills by:

a. adopting post-closure management and monitoring that is appropriate to the nature and requirements of the site and the type of waste material that was accepted during its operative period

b. enabling maintenance and monitoring activities to occur

c. ensuring that land use activities or development, both current and future undertaken on the site, do not compromise the site’s aftercare.

3. Avoid activities, buildings, structures or works in, on or adjacent to closed sites that:

a. compromise the site’s structural integrity, including any sealing cap and the containment of fill and leachate

b. adversely affect the ability to effectively undertake management and maintenance requirements.

1. Land containing elevated levels of contaminants is managed to protect human health and the environment and to enable this land to be used for suitable activities now and in the future.

1. Identify land containing elevated levels of contaminants by:

a. requiring a site investigation of land being redeveloped or subdivided, having regard to the potential for contamination from past activities

b. recording the details of actual or potentially contaminated land in a public register.

2. Require any proposal to use or develop land containing elevated levels of contaminants to remedy or manage the contaminated land to a level that:

a. protects human health to a level appropriate for the proposed land use

b. protects the environment to a level appropriate for existing and proposed land uses

c. allows contaminants to remain in the ground/groundwater, where it can be demonstrated that the level of residual contamination will not pose a significant adverse effect on human health or the environment

d. avoids adverse effects on potable water supplies

e. avoids, remedies or mitigates significant adverse effects from contaminated discharges to air, land and water on ecological values, water quality and amenity values.

3. Decisions on the use, development, management or remediation of land containing elevated levels of contaminants must in addition to the matters in Policy 2 above, take into account the following:

a. the physical constraints of the site and operational practicalities

b. the financial implications of the investigation, remediation, management and monitoring options

c. the requirement of the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health 2012

d. the provision of a detailed site investigation (contaminated land), remedial action plan (contaminated land), site validation report (contaminated land) and site management plan (contaminated land) that quantifies the adverse effects and the methods to avoid, remedy or mitigate these effects and to undertake monitoring of the site

e. the use of best practice contaminated land management for the identification, monitoring and remediation procedures

f. adequate measures are in place for the transport, disposal and tracking of soil and other material removed from the site to prevent adverse effects on the environment.

4. When considering Policies 2 and 3 above, the council will have regard to the following documents, where they are relevant to the type of land contamination:

a. current edition of the Petroleum Guidelines October 2011

b. current edition of the Contaminated Land Management Guidelines, No 1, 2 and 5 October 2011.

1. The beneficial use of biosolids onto or into land is provided for without having significant adverse effects on water quality, public health, amenity values and the potential future use of the land for urban development.

1. Allow the application of biosolids on or in land where it can be demonstrated that:

a. it will not result in significant adverse effects on surface and groundwater quality

b. it does not pose a threat to public health in terms of concentrations of nutrients, heavy metals, pathogens and synthetic organic chemicals

c. it does not adversely affect any Mana Whenua values associated with the site

d. it does not result in more than minor adverse effects to a water supply management area

e. there is no offensive or objectionable odour or dust beyond the boundary of the property on which the biosolids are applied

f. land used for food production or residential activities is avoided.

1. Environmentally hazardous substances used by ITAs are managed to avoid adverse effects on land and water as far as practicable, or to minimise adverse effects where they cannot be entirely avoided.

1. Prevent or minimise the discharge of environmentally hazardous substances from ITAs onto or into land, water or into the stormwater system by:

a. requiring wastewater and other effluent to be discharged to a public trade waste sewer where one is available

b. requiring ITAs to have, where appropriate, onsite management systems, processes, containment and treatment.

2. Require measures to be implemented, where environmentally hazardous substances cannot be discharged to a trade waste sewer or contained on site, to minimise adverse effects on land and water including:

a. consideration of options and alternatives

b. reducing effluent volumes and contaminant concentrations as far as practicable

c. applying treatment and other measures having regard to the nature of the discharge and the sensitivity of the receiving environment.

3. Require operation and maintenance regimes to ensure the on-going functioning of any management or treatment measures.

1. Human health and the environment are protected from the inappropriate application, handling, transport, storage or disposal of agrichemicals and VTAs.

1. Avoid significant adverse effects, and minimise other adverse effects, from the use of agrichemicals and VTAs including off-target spray drift, handling, storage, transport or disposal by:

a. managing their application to prevent adverse effects on or near sensitive areas, including:

i. dwellings

ii. education facilities

iii. marae and papakāinga

iv. hospitals and aged care facilities

v. amenity areas and public places

vi. sources of potable water including roof water collection

vii. non target crops, and flora and fauna sensitive to agrichemicals and VTAs

viii.v certified organic farms and farms applying for certification

ix. freshwater systems, CMA and SEAs

b. using where practicable, the least toxic and volatile agrichemical or VTA with the most harmless adjuvant (substance used to improve their performance) suitable for the purpose

c. applying agrichemicals and VTAs in accordance with the product’s label requirements, including specified rates of application

d. using an application method that minimises spray drift, giving particular attention to the:

i. type of spray equipment used

ii. spray volume and droplet size

iii. direction of spraying

iv. height of release above the ground

v. weather conditions

vi. proximity to sensitive areas

vii. separation distances

e. considering the benefits and costs of alternatives to the use of agrichemicals and VTAs for plant and animal protection.

2. Avoid adverse effects on human health and air, land, water, flora and fauna from off-target spray drift or the application, handling, storage, transport or disposal of agrichemicals

1. Discharges from rural production activities are managed to protect land and water resources.

1. Avoid more than minor adverse effects of discharges from rural production activities on water bodies, aquifers and artificial watercourses.

2. Enable dairy effluent discharges to land provided that discharge systems are designed and operated to minimise overland flow to surface water bodies and leaching of nutrients and other contaminants to groundwater.

3.Enable discharges of fertilisers to land where:

a. application is in accordance with best industry practice

b. the rate of application does not exceed the assimilative capacity of the soil and its vegetative cover

c. the vulnerability of the south Auckland volcanic aquifer to potential groundwater contamination has been considered and any effects are avoided or minimised.

4. Avoid the discharge of contaminants generated from rural production activities directly into water bodies and artificial watercourses.

5. Enable discharges to land that could run overland into water where:

a. best industry practice will be used to avoid more than minor effects on land, water bodies and groundwater

b. there are no adverse effects on Mana Whenua values associated with freshwater resources, including wāhi tapu, wāhi taonga and mahinga kai

c. there are no hazardous substances or human waste/sewage in the discharge

d. offal holes, silage storage facilities, and stockpiled and composted vegetative material or animal waste are appropriately sited and constructed

e. silage storage facilities are sealed and silage stacks covered

f. leachate is collected, stored and appropriately disposed of to land or off-site

g. there is no offensive or objectionable odour or dust beyond the boundary of the property where the contaminants are being discharged.

1. Auckland's lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands with high natural values are protected from degradation and permanent loss.

2. Auckland's lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands are restored, maintained and enhanced.

3. Adverse effects on lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands that cannot be avoided, remedied or mitigated are offset in exceptional circumstances, where this will better promote the purpose of the RMA.

4. Structures in, on, under or over the bed of a lake, river, stream and wetland occur where there is a need for the structure to be in that location as opposed to on the land or it is necessary to provide access across a river or stream.

5. Activities in, on, under or over the bed of a lake, river, stream and wetland are managed to minimise adverse effects on the lake, river, stream or wetland.

6. Reclamation and drainage of the bed of a lake, river, stream and wetland is avoided.

1. Avoid any adverse effects of activities on lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands within the following overlays:

a. Natural Stream Management Areas

b. Natural Lake Management Areas

c. Urban Lake Management Areas

d. SEAs

e. Wetland Management Areas.

2. Manage the effects of activities on lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands outside Natural Stream Management Areas, Natural Lake Management Areas, Urban Lake Management areas, Significant Ecological Areas (SEAs) and Wetland Management Areas by:

a. avoiding where practicable or otherwise remedying or mitigating any adverse effects on lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands

b. where appropriate, restoring and enhancing the lake, river, stream or wetland.

3. Offset any residual or unavoidable adverse effects that are more than minor on lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands through restoration and enhancement actions that:

a. are located as close as possible to the subject site or within the same catchment

b. are ‘like for like’

c. achieve no net loss and preferably a net gain in the natural values including ecological function of lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands.

4. Avoid adverse effects of activities on lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands on:

a. the mauri of the freshwater environment

b. Mana Whenua values in relation to the freshwater environment.

5. Manage the impact on Mana Whenua cultural heritage that is identified prior to, or discovered during, development or land use by:

a. complying with the protocol for the accidental discovery of kōiwi, archaeology and artefacts of Māori origin

b. undertaking appropriate actions in accordance with mātauranga and tikanga Māori

c. undertaking appropriate measures to avoid adverse effects, or where adverse effects cannot be avoided, effects are remedied or mitigated

6. Allow the use, erection, reconstruction, placement, alteration, extension, removal, or demolition of any structure or part of any structure in, on, under, or over the bed of a lake, river, stream or wetland, and any associated diversion of water, where:

a. there is no reasonable or practicable alternative method or location for undertaking the activity outside the lake, river, stream or wetland, and

b. the structure is designed to be the minimum size necessary for its purpose to minimise modification to the bed of a lake, river, stream or wetland; and

c. the structure is designed to avoid creating or increasing a hazard; and

d. the structure is:

i. required as part of an activity designed to restore or enhance the natural values of any lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands and their margins, or any adjacent area of indigenous vegetation or habitat of indigenous fauna; or

ii. designed to maintain and/or enhance public access to, over and along any lake, river, stream or wetland and associated margins; or

iii. necessary to provide access across a lake, river, stream or wetland; or

iv. associated with the provision or maintenance of significant infrastructure; or

v. necessary for flood protection and the safeguarding of public health and safety

e. the structure avoids adverse effects on Mana Whenua values associated with freshwater resources, including wāhi tapu, wāhi taonga and mahinga kai.

7. Allow the excavation, drilling, tunnelling or other disturbance, and the depositing of any substance in, on or under the bed of a lake, river, stream or wetland, where:

a. there is no reasonable or practicable alternative method or location for undertaking the activity outside the lake, river, stream or wetland; and

b. the activity is required:

i. as part of an activity designed to restore or enhance the natural values of any lake, river, stream or wetland, or any adjacent area of indigenous vegetation or habitat of indigenous fauna; or

ii. to maintain and/or enhance public access to, over and along any lake, river, stream or wetland and associated margins; or

iii. to provide for or maintain significant infrastructure; or

iv. to restore, maintain or improve access to wharves and jetties or mooring areas, or to maintain the navigation and safety of existing channels; or

v. to reduce the risk of occurrence or the potential adverse effects of flooding, erosion, scour or sediment depositing.

c. the disturbance avoids adverse effects on Mana Whenua values associated with freshwater resources, including wāhi tapu, wāhi taonga and mahinga kai.

8. Allow planting of any plant in, on, or under the bed of a lake, river, stream or wetland where it is suitable for habitat establishment, restoration or enhancement, the maintenance and enhancement of amenity values, flood or erosion protection or stormwater runoff control provided it does not create or exacerbate flooding.

9. Encourage the incorporation of Mana Whenua mātauranga, values and tikanga in any planting in, on, or under the bed of a lake, river, stream or wetland.

10. Avoid the reclamation and drainage of the bed of lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, including any extension to existing reclamations or drained areas unless:

a. there is no reasonable or practicable alternative method for undertaking the activity outside the lake, river, stream or wetland

b. the activity is required:

i. as part of an activity designed to restore or enhance the natural values of any lake, river, stream or wetland, any adjacent area of indigenous vegetation or habitats of indigenous fauna; or

ii. to provide for or maintain significant infrastructure

c. the activity avoids adverse effects on Mana Whenua values associated with freshwater resources, including wāhi tapu, wāhi taonga and mahinga kai.

11. Avoid more than minor adverse effects on water bodies and coastal water from grazing livestock

12. Protect and enhance riparian margins of lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands to:

a. support habitats for fish, plant and other aquatic species, particularly in rivers and streams with high ecological values

b. maintain and enhance aesthetic, landscape and natural character values of lakes, rivers and streams, and wetlands

c. maintain and enhance the contribution of natural freshwater systems to the biodiversity, resilience and integrity of ecosystems

d. avoid or mitigate the effects of flooding, surface erosion, stormwater contamination, bank erosion and increased surface water temperature.

13. Acquire land, or protect land through the use of esplanade reserves and esplanade strips, marginal strips, drainage reserves, easements or covenants, alongside streams for public access where appropriate and for water quality, ecological and landscape protection purposes.

1. Areas of high freshwater quality, ecosystem health, and areas of significant Mana Whenua values are protected from degradation.

2. Areas of degraded water quality and ecosystem health are protected from further degradation and they are enhanced where practicable.

3. The water quality, life supporting capacity and ecosystems of the CMA are protected from further degradation and enhanced where practicable.

4. Development is undertaken in a way that minimises adverse effects on freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems.

5. The mauri of freshwater and the relationship of Mana Whenua with freshwater is recognised and provided for.

6. Mana Whenua values, mātauranga and tikanga are reflected and given sufficient weight in water quality management processes and decision-making.

1.Manage the cumulative effects of land use and development and control the discharge of water and contaminants to land and freshwater systems by using the Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) as a measure of freshwater ecosystem health associated with different land uses within catchments.

2.Manage discharges, land use and development and activities that may affect freshwater systems to, as far as practicable:

a.maintain water quality, flows, stream channels and their margins and other freshwater values, where the MCI currently meets or exceeds the relevant guideline in Table 1: MCI guideline for Auckland rivers and streams;

b.restore or enhance water quality, flows, stream channels and their margins and other freshwater values where the MCI guideline in Table 1: MCI guideline for Auckland rivers and streams are not currently met;

c.retain, and where practicable enhance, existing freshwater values where there is a change to an urban land use.

3.Require freshwater values to be enhanced unless existing intensive land use and development and irreversible modification of stream channels practicably precludes enhancement occurring.

5.Develop catchment specific objectives and limits for freshwater with Mana Whenua through community consultation, scientific research and mātauranga Māori, to replace the MCI guideline and to give effect to the NPSFM.

6.Manage use, development and subdivision of land to:

a.protect freshwater systems and coastal waters with high ecological and cultural values from adverse effects as far as practicable

b.minimise new adverse effects on freshwater systems and coastal waters, and reduce existing adverse effects where practicable, having regard to the MCI guidelines in Table 1 and other indicators of water quality and ecosystem health.

7.Integrate land development and water management by:

a.planning for water infrastructure in areas of new growth or intensification as part of stormwater and wastewater network resource consents

b.requiring greenfield development and major redevelopment to be supported by comprehensive and integrated land use and water management planning processes

c.aligning all phases of development, from earthworks to final construction, to give effect to Policy 9(b) below.

8.Control land use activities, in conjunction with the management of discharges, to prevent or minimise adverse effects and achieve the objectives for freshwater systems and coastal waters.

9.Avoid significant adverse effects and remedy or mitigate other adverse effects of stormwater runoff in greenfield areas on freshwater systems and coastal water by:

a.the adoption of water-sensitive design as a core development approach;

b.on-site management and the use of communal devices or facilities to reduce stormwater contaminants, volumes and peak flows and minimise adverse effects, focussing in particular on:

i.activities that have the potential to generate high contaminant concentrations and loads

ii.managing stormwater runoff to achieve hydrological mitigation equivalent to that required in a Stormwater Management Area Flow - 1 in areas discharging to rivers and streams;

iii.minimising the temperature effects of stormwater discharges on rivers and streams where practicable;

iv.providing for the management of gross stormwater pollutants, such as litter, in areas where the generation of these may be an issue;

c.the provision of public stormwater infrastructure that meets the council’s requirements.

d.the use of green infrastructure for stormwater management where practicable

10.Minimise new, and reduce the existing, adverse effects of stormwater runoff on communities, freshwater systems and coastal waters from new development, intensification and re-development by:

a.requiring measures to be adopted to reduce contaminant loads, with a focus on activities that have the potential to generate high contaminant concentrations and loads

b.implementing measures to reduce the discharge of gross stormwater pollutants, such as litter, in areas where the generation of these may be an issue

c.requiring measures to be adopted to reduce the peak flow rate and volume of stormwater flows:

i.within a Stormwater Management Area - Flow;

ii.where development exceeds impervious thresholds for the relevant zone;

iii.from areas of impervious surface where discharges may give rise to flooding or adversely affect rivers and streams.

d.adopting water sensitive design principles and encouraging the restoration of freshwater systems and overland flow paths where practicable

e.ensuring intensification is supported by appropriate stormwater infrastructure (including natural assets such as overland flow paths, floodplains and streams).

f.adopting the best practicable option for preventing or minimising the adverse effects of stormwater discharges from significant infrastructure including road, rail and the public stormwater network having regard to:

i.the Best Practicable Option (BPO) criteria as set out in s. 2 of the RMA

ii.integrated land and water management policies in 6 to 8 above

iii.the reasonable timeframes over which adverse effects can be prevented or minimised

iv.the scale and significance of the adverse effects

v.infrastructure investment priorities and the consequence of delaying infrastructural improvements in other areas

vi.the ability to prevent or minimise existing adverse effects having regard to the effectiveness and timeframes of other feasible methods, including land use controls

vii.opportunities to integrate with other major infrastructural projects or works including renewal and maintenance

viii.v the need to maintain and optimise existing public stormwater networks and provide for planned land use and development

ix.the operational requirements and space limitations of significant infrastructure.

11.In determining the extent to which adverse effects of stormwater diversions and discharges are prevented or mitigated, particular regard shall be had to:

a.the nature, quality, volume and peak flow of the stormwater runoff

b.the sensitivity of freshwater systems and coastal waters, including the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, to the adverse effects of stormwater contaminants and flows

c.the potential for the diversion and discharge to create or exacerbate flood risks;

d.options to manage stormwater on-site or the use of communal stormwater management measures

e.practical limitations in respect of the measures that can be applied.

12.Ensure the concentration of contaminants in stormwater runoff from new or redeveloped high contaminant-generating activities are managed to levels established to reduce existing and prevent or minimise new adverse effects on water and sediment quality in freshwater systems and coastal waters.

13.Require stormwater quality controls to be applied to high contaminant generating activities at the time of their construction, initiation on an existing developed site, or site re-development .

14.Manage activity areas on industrial sites to prevent or minimise contaminated discharges to the stormwater system, freshwater systems or coastal waters in accordance with the ITA provisions in the Unitary Plan.

15.Require any necessary stormwater quality or flow management to be achieved on-site unless there is a downstream communal device or facility designed to cater for the site’s stormwater runoff that will achieve the same or better level of stormwater management performance.

16.Require land use and development to not exceed impervious area thresholds or, where this is not practicable, to mitigate stormwater hydrology to ensure the adequate functioning and performance of the stormwater network, contribute to retaining and enhancing stream health and values and not increase existing flood risk.

17.Utilise stormwater discharge to ground soakage in areas underlain by shallow or highly permeable aquifers provided that:

a.ground soakage is available

b.any risk to people and property from land instability or flooding is avoided

c.stormwater quality treatment is implemented to minimise effects on the capacity and water quality of the underlying aquifer system.

d.discharge to ground soakage is the most effective and sustainable option.

18.Require land use and development and drainage systems within areas underlain by peat soils to provide for stormwater discharge to ground soakage that maintains underlying aquifer water levels and the geotechnical stability of the peat soils.

19.Avoid increasing the frequency and volume of existing wastewater network overflows or creating new wastewater network overflows by:

a.requiring new wastewater networks to be designed and constructed in accordance with recognised industry benchmark standards, including being sized to cater for the maximum likely level of land use development within the area to be serviced

b.requiring the construction of private wastewater networks that are to be connected to the Watercare network, to meet design standards for new wastewater infrastructure as set out in the Water and Wastewater Code of Practice for Land Development and Subdivision, Watercare Services Limited 2011.

c.requiring any new emergency discharges to be managed in accordance with a network operations plan which includes a mitigation plan with clear timeframes.

d.designing and locating overflow points in such as way as to minimise nuisance, damage, public health risk and adverse ecological effects.

20.Requiring land use and development discharging into the combined sewer network to:

a.avoid increasing stormwater flows to the combined sewer network.

b.where practicable, reduce stormwater flows from existing impervious areas to the combined sewer network at the time of urban intensification, redevelopment or subdivision

c.discharge stormwater from new impervious areas and existing impervious to a separated stormwater system, a natural freshwater system or to coastal water where one of those options is available and the stormwater can be drained by gravity.

21.Minimise the adverse effects of wet weather wastewater network overflows over time by reducing wet weather overflows to an average of no more than two events per discharge location per year, where the stormwater and wastewater networks are separated with priority for:

a.areas of contact recreation and public use

b.receiving environments that are sensitive to the adverse effects of wastewater overflows

c.areas with high Māori cultural values.

22.Minimise the adverse effects of dry weather overflows by:

a.ensuring that the wastewater and combined sewer networks are operated and maintained to minimise the likelihood of dry weather overflows occurring

b.adopting response procedures to minimise adverse effects and risks to public health and safety and the environment.

23.Prevent or minimise the adverse effects from construction, maintenance investigation and other activities by:

a.establishing minimum performance standards for the discharges; or,

b.where these are not appropriate or unable to be met, having regard to

i.the nature, volume and concentration of the contaminants in the discharge

ii.the sensitivity of the receiving environment to the contaminants in the discharge

iii.other options for the discharge, including reuse or discharge to the trade sewer

iv.available measures to reduce contaminant concentrations prior to discharge or otherwise mitigate adverse effects.

1. Water in surface rivers and groundwater aquifers is available for use while the aquatic values of water are maintained and sustainable yield is not exceeded.

2. Water resources meet current and future water needs.

3. Water resources available for use are managed and allocated in order of priority to maximise the life supporting capacity for people, animals, and economic development.

4. Water resources are managed and allocated to maximise the efficient use of available water.

5. Mana Whenua values are acknowledged in the allocation and use of water.

1.Manage the allocation of freshwater within the guidelines provided by Appendix 5.2 and 5.5 and give priority to making water available for the following uses (in descending order of priority):

a.existing and reasonably foreseeable domestic and municipal water supply and animal drinking water requirements

b.existing lawfully established water users

c.uses of water for which alternative water sources are unavailable or unsuitable

d.all other uses.

2.Promote the efficient use of freshwater and geothermal water by:

a.requiring the amount of water taken and used to be reasonable and justifiable with regard to the intended use, and where appropriate:

i.municipal water supplies are justified by way of a water management plan

ii.industrial and irrigation supplies implement best practice, in respect of the efficient use of water for that particular activity or industry

iii.irrigation takes are limited to a maximum seasonal allocation based on estimated crop water requirements

b.requiring consideration of water conservation and thermal efficiency methods

c.facilitating the transfer of surface water take permits, provided the transfer is within the same surface water catchment and does not result in site-specific adverse effects

d.encourage the shared use and management of water through water user groups or other arrangements where it results in an increased efficiency in the use and allocation of water.

3.Manage the taking and use of surface water from rivers, streams and springs and taking and use of groundwater from aquifers so that:

a.the minimum flow and availability guidelines in Table 1 in Appendix 5.2 are not exceeded

b.the aquifer availability and groundwater levels in Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix 5.5 are not exceeded

4.Require proposals to take and use water from lakes, rivers, streams, springs or wetlands to demonstrate that:

a.the taking of surface water from any river or stream is within the guideline in Table 1: River and stream minimum flow and availability in Appendix 5.2 except in accordance with Policy 9

b.appropriate water levels and downstream flow regimes will be maintained, including:

i.low flows in rivers and streams to protect in-stream values

ii.flow variability in rivers, streams and springs

iii.water levels and flows in wetlands ensure the vegetation and habitat values of the wetland are protected throughout the year

iv.water levels in lakes maintain the ecological values and water quality of the lake and its shoreline stability, and enable recreational use

v.so that no existing lawfully established taking of water is adversely effected

c.the taking of water will be at times of the day or year that will safeguard the identified freshwater values of the water body

d.intake structures will be designed, constructed, operated and maintained to avoid adverse effects on biota, including the entrainment and impingement of fish

e.there are options for implementing water conservation measures in times of water shortage.

5.Require all proposals for take and use groundwater from any aquifer to demonstrate that:

a.the taking is within the water availabilities and levels for the aquifer in Table 1: Aquifer water availabilities and Table 2: Aquifer groundwater levels, in Appendix 5.5 and

i.recharge to other aquifers is maintained

ii.aquifer consolidation and surface subsidence is avoided

b.the taking will avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on surface water flows, including:

i.base flow of rivers, streams and springs

ii.any river or stream flow requirements

c.the taking will avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem habitat

d.the taking will not cause saltwater intrusion or any other contamination

e.the taking will not cause adverse interference effects on neighbouring bores to the extent their owners are prevented from exercising their lawfully established water takes

f.clause e above will not apply in the following circumstances:

i.where it is practicably possible to locate the pump intake at a greater depth within the affected bore

ii.where it can be demonstrated that the affected bore accesses, or could access, groundwater at a deeper level within the same aquifer, if drilled or cased to a greater depth

g.the proposed bore is capable of extracting the quantity of groundwater applied for

h.the proposal avoids, remedies or mitigates any ground settlement that may cause distress, including reducing the ability of an existing building or structure to meet the relevant requirements of the Building Act 2004 or the New Zealand Building Code, to existing:

i.buildings

ii.structures

iii.services including roads, pavements, power, gas, electricity, water mains, sewers and fibre optic cables.

6.Consider mitigation options, where there are significant adverse effects on the matters identified in policies 4 and 5 above, including the following:

a.consideration of alternative locations, rates and timing of takes for both surface water and groundwater

b.use of alternative water supplies

c.use of water conservation methods when water shortage conditions apply

d.provision for fish passage in rivers and streams

e.wetland creation or enhancement of existing wetlands

f.riparian planting

g.consideration of alternative designs for groundwater dewatering proposals.

7.Require proposals to take and use surface water and groundwater to monitor the effects of the take on the quality and quantity of the water resource to:

a.measure and record water use and rate of take

b.measure and record water flows and levels

c.sample and assess water quality and freshwater ecology

d.measure and record the movement of ground, buildings and other structures.

8.Manage water availability, where water allocation exceeds or is close to exceeding the guidelines in Table 1: River and Stream Minimum Flow and Table 2: Aquifer Groundwater Levels in Appendix 5.5 by:

a.not granting new consent applications to take water

b.reducing existing takes over time by:

i.encouraging voluntary reductions in water allocations

ii.reviewing existing consents to align water allocations to the actual historical use of water

c.reviews of existing allocations under b(ii) above must not apply to takes for municipal water supply, where a water management plan demonstrates a necessary increase in abstraction to cater for planned urban growth

d.reviewing existing consents to require the efficient use of water.

9.Allow takes that exceed the guidelines in Table 1 Appendix 5.2 when the river or stream flow is greater than the median flow, provided the total take does not exceed 10 per cent of the flow in the river or stream at the time of abstraction, and natural flow variability is maintained.

11.Develop catchment specific limits for freshwater quantity with Mana Whenua, through community consultation, scientific research and mātauranga Māori.

12.Require resource consents granted to take, use or dam water and to discharge contaminants to land or freshwater to be for a duration and include a condition setting the review date(s) of the consent, that will enable the concurrent processing or review of all consents/replacement applications, as a basis for a comprehensive and integrated assessment of water quality and water quantity issues in the catchment and/or aquifer system.

13.Encourage the off-stream damming of water in preference to the damming of rivers or streams.

14.Avoid damming water in Natural Lake, Wetland and Natural Stream Management Areas other than:

a.where these areas are in a Water Supply Management Area and the damming is necessary for municipal water supply

b.the dam is necessary for the protection or maintenance of the natural values of the management area and there are no practicable alternative methods to achieve this protection.

15.Require proposals to dam a river to demonstrate that:

a.adverse effects on fish passage are avoided or remedied, where native fish and/or habitats actually or potentially exist upstream

b.appropriate water levels and downstream flow regimes will be maintained, including:

i.low flows in rivers and streams to protect in stream values

ii.downstream flow variability

iii.water levels and flows in wetlands to protect vegetation and habitat values of the wetland throughout the year

iv.water levels in lakes to protect the ecological values and water quality of the lake, maintain shoreline stability and enable recreational use

c.existing lawfully established upstream and downstream water uses are not adversely affected by the damming proposal, including those allowed by s. 14 (3) (b) of the RMA

d.Mana Whenua values associated with the wetland, lake or river are identified and the effect of the proposal on these are assessed and taken into account

e.the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the dam avoids significant adverse effects and remedies or mitigates other effects on:

i.flooding

ii.bank or bed erosion or aggregation

iii.drainage of any property

iv.land instability

v.people and communities

vi.the habitat of fauna or flora, including wetlands, either upstream or downstream of the dam

vii.catchment conditions arising from the scale, location or number of dams in the catchment

viii.risk of dam failure.

f.if applicable, recognise the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River in Schedule 2 of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010.

16.Require proposals for new, change or replacement applications to dam a river or stream or dam water with an off-stream dam to undertake monitoring of a type and scale appropriate for the activity, including:

a.inspection of dam embankments and spillways

b.measurement and recording of embankment internal water levels and pressures; or

c.sampling and assessment of water quality and freshwater biota in on-stream dams.

17.Require proposals to divert surface water to demonstrate the diversion will avoid significant adverse effects and remedy or mitigate other adverse effects including those on:

a.existing lawfully established surface water takes including those allowed by s. 14 (3) (b) of the RMA

b.existing buildings, structures and services

c.existing flood hazard risks

d.river bank stability

e.scheduled historic heritage places or scheduled sites and places of significance to Mana Whenua

f.people and communities.

18.Require proposals to divert groundwater, in addition to the matters addressed in policy 5 and 6 above, to ensure that:

a.the proposal avoids, remedies or mitigates any adverse effects on:

i.scheduled historic heritage places and scheduled sites and places of significance to Mana Whenua

ii.people and communities

b.the groundwater diversion does not cause or exacerbate any flooding

c.monitoring has been incorporated where appropriate, including:

i.measurement and recording of water levels and pressures

ii.measurement and recording of the movement of ground, buildings and other structures

d.mitigation has been incorporated where appropriate including:

i.minimising the period where the excavation is open/unsealed

ii.use of low permeability perimeter walls and floors

iii.use of temporary and permanent systems to retain the excavation

iv.re-injection of water to maintain groundwater pressures.

19.Require proposals to drill holes or bores to demonstrate that the location, design and construction:

a.complies with the New Zealand Standard on the Environmental Standard for Drilling of Soil and Rock (NZS 4411:2001)

b.prevents contaminants from entering an aquifer

c.prevents cross-contamination between aquifers with different pressure, water quality or temperature

d.prevents leakage of groundwater to waste

e.avoids the destruction, damage or modification of any scheduled historic heritage place or scheduled sites and places of significance to Mana Whenua

f.avoids disturbance of wetlands.

1. Land-based disposal of treated wastewater from on-site wastewater systems is undertaken in a manner that protects the environment, public health and amenity.

2. Significant adverse effects on groundwater and surface water quality, public health and amenity arising from on-site wastewater systems servicing single or multiple sites are avoided.

1. Enable on-site wastewater treatment and disposal where:

a. there is no community, municipal or decentralised wastewater treatment system available, or it is not practicable to connect into one of these systems

b. the on-site wastewater treatment results in a discharge that is of a quality and volume that avoids significant adverse effects on groundwater and surface water quality, public health and amenity.

2. Require proposals for on-site wastewater treatment and disposal resource consents to demonstrate that:

a. significant adverse effects on public and environmental health, water quality and amenity values are avoided and other adverse effects remedied or mitigated

b. an assessment of the site conditions has been undertaken

c. the design of the on-site wastewater system and the proposed volume of discharge will minimise the level of contaminants to the greatest extent practicable

d. Mana Whenua concerns relating to the potential adverse effects of the on-site wastewater discharge have been identified and addressed.

1. The environment, including people and communities and their social, economic and cultural well being and health and safety, is protected from potential adverse effects associated with the outdoor use, storage, cultivation, harvesting, processing or transportation of GMOs.

1. Adopt a precautionary approach by prohibiting the general release of a GMO, and by making outdoor field trialling of a GMO a discretionary activity

2. Require the holder of a resource consent granted for the outdoor field trialling of a GMO is financially accountable (to the extent possible) for any adverse effects associated with the activity, including clean-up costs and remediation, including via the use of bonds.

3. Require outdoor field trialling of GMOs to avoid, as far as can reasonably be achieved, risk to the environment from the use, storage, cultivation, harvesting, processing or transportation of a GMO.

4. Require all monitoring costs to be met by the consent holder.

5. Ensure the outdoor use of GMOs does not result in migration of GMOs beyond the area designated by:

a. Adequate site design, construction and management techniques

b. Preventing the escape of GMOs from transporting vehicles or vessels

c. Ensuring all heritable material is removed upon the conclusion of the activity.

d. Ensuring any financial liability is the responsibility of the operator carrying out the activity.

6. Adopt an adaptive approach to the management of the outdoor use, storage, cultivation, harvesting, processing or transportation of a GMO through periodic reviews of these plan provisions, particularly if new information on the benefits and/or adverse effects of a GMO activity becomes available.

7. Require where appropriate, more stringent measures than those required under the provisions of the HSNO Act to manage potential risks.