Two plan changes to the Otago Regional Plan have been notified by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) which will affect drystock and dairy farmers in Otago – the Omnibus Plan Change (PC 1 and 8) and Plan Change 7 (Deemed Permits). The Omnibus Plan Change has two names, with the other name being the Water Quality Plan Change. Please note that these are used interchangeably within different organisations.
This would normally be done by the Otago Regional Council (ORC), but in this case ORC asked the minister to call in the plan changes. This means that the normal plan change process looks a little different, but the outcome is the same.
B+LNZ will provide farmers with resources and events to help you to understand the plan changes and the processes so that you can understand what it mean for you and how you can have your say.
We have put together the below cheat sheet to help you navigate the EPA website and find the information and resources you need quickly.
- Omnibus Plan Change – Where is the info factsheet (Word, 15MB)
Join Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Olivia Ross on the below podcast to hear from Lauren Philips, B+LNZ Environmental Policy Manager for the South Island about the latest Otago Regional Council Plan Change and what this will be mean for farmers.
- Otago Omnibus Plan Change Presentation 2020 notes (PDF, 4.3MB)
LISTEN TO B+LNZ's SCENE + HERD PODCAST
Omnibus Plan Change
The new Omnibus Plan Change to Otago’s Water Plan applies to the whole Otago region, and the proposed changes that might affect you are summarised in the table below.
| PC8 | PC1 |
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Have your say
The EPA is inviting submissions on PC1 and PC8 until 5pm on 17 August 2020. The submission forms can be found below, and you must use the PC1 form for your submission on PC1, and the PC8 form for your submission on PC8.
- Submission Form Omnibus Plan Change 1 (Word, 75KB)
- Submission Form Omnibus Plan Change 8 (Word, 74KB)
You must send BOTH the EPA and ORC a copy of your submission. Email or post your submission to:
| EPA Email: ORCplanchanges@epa.govt.nz Subject line: Submission [Your Name] ORC Plan Change (Omnibus) |
ORC Email: policy@orc.govt.nz Subject line: Submission [Your Name] ORC Plan Change (Omnibus) |
| Post : Environmental Protection Authority, ORC Proposed Plan Changes, Private Bag 63002, Wellington 6140 |
Post: Attn: Rachel Currie Otago Regional Council, Private Bag 1954, Dunedin 9054 |
Beef + Lamb New Zealand will be providing feedback on the proposed plan changes and strongly encourage farmers to do the same. If you would like to make a submission on the proposed changes and would like some guidance, check out our video for tips and information: Regional Council Environment plans: Be heard by decision makers
Where can I find the information?
We have put together the below cheat sheet to help you navigate the EPA website and find the information and resources you need quickly.
- Omnibus Plan Change – Where is the info factsheet (Word, 15MB)
Key documents
- Omnibus Plan Change Plan Change 1 (PDF, 811KB)
- Omnibus Plan Change Plan Change 8 (PDF, 2.2MB)
- B+LNZ Principles for the Allocation of Nutrients (PDF, 105KB)
- Section 32 evaluation report Omnibus Plan Change (1MB)
- Submission Form Omnibus Plan Change 1 (Word, 75KB)
- Submission Form Omnibus Plan Change 8 (Word, 74KB)
Plan Change 7 (Deemed Permits)
Plan Change 7 was initially notified by ORC earlier this year, and was accepting submissions until 4 May 2020.
The EPA has re-notified it and is inviting submissions from anyone who has not already made a submission on PC7 until 5pm on 17 August 2020.
This means that if you did not make a submission on PC7, you now have an opportunity to do so.
If you already made a submission on PC7, you do not need to do anything. ORC will pass on your submission to the EPA. If you already made a submission on PC7, you cannot put in another one on PC7.
You must send BOTH the EPA and ORC a copy of your submission. Email or post your submission to:
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EPA |
ORC |
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Post : |
Post: |
Beef + Lamb New Zealand made a submission on PC7 in May and strongly encourage farmers with water permits to do the same. You can take a look at our submission, as well as the Plan change itself, ORC’s s32 report (reasons for the plan change), and the EPA submission template for PC7 below.
Key documents
- Proposed Plan Change 7 (PDF, 286KB)
- B+LNZ DINZ Submisssion on PC7 to RP WfO (PDF, 272KB)
- Section 32 evaluation report Omnibus Plan Change (1MB)
- EPA Submission Form Plan Change 7 (Word, 75KB)
- Otago PC7 Presentation April 2020 (PDF, 2MB)
- B+LNZ Principles for the Allocation of Nutrients (PDF, 105KB)
Beef + Lamb New Zealand held webinars for farmers on PC7 in April. We have uploaded the slides from those webinars above. If you would like more information on PC7, please email Lauren Phillips, your South Island Environment Policy Manager, for help.
Have questions?
If you would like assistance with your submission on any of the plan changes, please get in touch with us to let us know, or contact Lauren directly using the button below.
