Take care with works around waterways
Bala Tikkisetty
Farmers and their contractors can help protect the health of waterways by ensuring that any works they do in and around
them don’t impact on bank stability, water quality and aquatic life.
To help ensure things are done the right way, Waikato Regional Council can provide advice when people are planning any
works around waterways, and has a range of relevant rules that spell out what is permitted and what requires a consent.
In recent years, the council has received a range of complaints about inappropriate in-stream works, resulting in a
number of formal investigations and prosecutions.
So the council’s keen to lift awareness about the issues involved and the responsibilities of farmers and others when
carrying out works in and around water bodies. These can include stream straightening and excavating the beds of rivers
and lakes for a wide range of purposes ( including to install bridges or culverts), to remove a build up of sediment or
to manage an unstable stream.
Sediment build up or instability may be caused by stock trampling the banks, or cultivation of paddocks too close to
waterways without an adequate buffer zone or enough sediment control. It is important to ensure that these causes are
dealt with to avoid recurring problems.
The effects of such problems on aquatic life and water quality can be exacerbated through inappropriate in-stream
excavations, or inappropriate removal of bank vegetation.
Besides hurting water quality and aquatic habitats through increased sedimentation, destabilisation of banks and beds
can cause changes to the course of rivers and streams, resulting in loss of land and property and infrastructure damage.
Structures such as bridges, culverts and water intakes are essential features of most farms and they must be well
planned and constructed to ensure they are not at risk from the stream, and also to protect in-stream values. These
structures can obstruct or divert flows, or obstruct fish passage up and down rivers, blocking access to spawning
grounds and migration generally, including to areas that have been used as traditional or recreational fisheries.
Against that background, the Resource Management Act clearly prohibits any disturbances to river, stream and lake beds
unless the disturbance is specifically allowed by a resource consent issued by a regional council.
That’s why Council policies cover the use, erection, reconstruction, placement, alteration, extension, removal or
demolition of structures in, on, under or over the beds of rivers, streams and lakes and any disturbance of the bed as
well, such as stream straightening or cleaning. So those planning such works are wise to check out the rules first.
However, Waikato Regional Council also recognises that there are a range of activities in and around waterways that are
not harmful. The regional plan has many rules enabling “everyday” activities, provided certain conditions are followed
to avoid the sorts of problems described above. Those rules identify what activities are permitted without consents, and
the conditions those activities must meet.
All parties involved can be held responsible for unlawful in-stream works, from property owners through to property
managers and earthworks contractors. If the circumstances warrant it prosecutions or other enforcement action may be
undertaken.
So it’s important to check the regional rules and to seek good quality advice when planning any activity in or near a
stream. That will ensure that our rivers and streams are properly cared for as complex, delicate ecosystems in a
productive agricultural landscape.
More information on the details is available on 0800 800 401 or visit http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Council/Policy-and-plans/Rules-and-regulation/Regional-Plan/Waikato-Regional-Plan/4-River-and-Lake-Bed-Module/41-River-and-Lake-Bed-Management/
• Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable agriculture advisor at Waikato Regional Council.