HBFGA April 2025
Change is Coming –TANK Actual and Reasonable Assessments Forging Ahead
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council are starting to process on hold resource consents in the TANK Catchments. HBRC have requested further information by 31 May 2025 and view to process the bulk of these consents by 31 August 2025. What do Grower’s do now? If you have accepted the ‘Actual & Reasonable Use’ assessments made by HBRC or already provided further information, nothing is needed and HBRC will be in touch in due course.
If you have yet to respond, have a close look at the HBRC assessment and determine whether the volume is sufficient. If it isn’t, further justification to argue an increase utilising the seven matters of discretion HBRC have outlined must be provided to HBRC by 31 May 2025. These include accuracy of data, water sharing, crop rotation / redevelopment, and low flow bans. Cyclone recovery, and investment post 2 May 2020 can also be considered, but this will trigger a change in activity status. If you need assistance, speak to your rural professional.
Change is coming, and in the immediate term this appears to be reductions in allocation. However, with change also comes opportunity to improve.
At the individual scale; how efficient is your irrigation system? Can a better understanding of demand and site-specific conditions lower use and lower costs? Can those same improvements control vigour? Drive colour?
At the regional scale; how can you collaborate to drive the success of the primary sector? Does water sharing have a role to play? How efficient is the region and its produce and does this give a market access strength?
There is no doubt that the regulatory framework is going to deliver challenges with immediate effect to the Heretaunga Plains. Industry is going to need collaboration, communication, and resilience while this challenge is navigated.
Carl
