What is a variation?
A variation is the formal name the RMA gives to publicly notified amendments that a council makes to a regional plan, which is still at the proposed plan stage.

What does the Proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan (PNNRP) currently say?
PNNRP Chapter 4 Water Quality contains a policy and method ( Policy WQL 12 Method WQL 12(k)) that requires Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Councils to develop provisions in their district plans to prohibit new residential, commercial and industrial subdivisions in the Christchurch Groundwater Recharge Zone 1.

What is Variation 3?
Environment Canterbury has decided to work on a draft variation to Policy WQL12 and Method 12 (k) that removes the requirement above and instead makes Environment Canterbury responsible for developing and implementing the appropriate level of land use controls on residential, commercial and industrial land uses in Zone 1.

Why is Environment Canterbury proposing this variation?
The aquifers would be better protected if land uses that threaten water quality were managed by a single agency - Environment Canterbury.

It is consistent with Environment Canterbury’s responsibilities under the Resource Management Act 1991 to manage land uses for the protection of water quality and to achieve integrated management of natural and physical resources.

What is the Christchurch Groundwater Recharge Zone?
Christchurch City’s untreated, high quality drinking water is pumped from the confined aquifers beneath the City. The water in these aquifers is replenished by rainfall falling on land in the Recharge Zone and outflows of water from the nearby Waimakariri River. The groundwater flows eastwards towards the City, some of the water emerges as springs feeding the Avon and Heathcote Rivers while the remainder of the water enters the confined aquifers This area of land to the west of the City that comprises the “catchment” for Christchurch’s groundwater supplies is called the Christchurch Groundwater Recharge Zone. The Zone is divided into two parts
Zone 1 comprises the land to the west of Christchurch bounded by the Waimakariri River and a line approximately between Halkett and Banks Peninsula to the south. Groundwater in Zone 1 lies close to the ground surface. This aquifer is unconfined – it has little or no impermeable material overlying it, so rainfall soaks quickly down into the aquifer, and there is little natural protection to prevent contaminants entering the groundwater.
Zone 2 of the Christchurch Groundwater Recharge consists of land covered largely by urban Christchurch. Zone 2 is the area where layers of fine-grained sediments – clays and sands alternate with layers of water bearing gravels (aquifers). The fine-grained sediments begin to appear on the west side of the zone and increase in thickness under the City towards the coast. The aquifers are also under pressure, the deeper aquifers having higher pressure than the shallowest aquifer. This creates a natural upwards or artesian pressure which in combination with the layer of fine sediments provides a high degree of natural protection to contaminants moving downwards from the land surface into the groundwater.

Where is the Christchurch Groundwater Recharge Zone 1?
Zone 1 is the land west of the city bounded by the Waimakariri River to the north and John’s Road, Russley Road, Marshes Road, West Coast Road and Halkett Road to the south; an area of about 32,000 hectares. See Map

What are the 1A, 1B, 1C areas, are they townships?
These are areas of land that have already been identified in the Christchurch City Plan, for special uses in Zone 1. The 1A land is the airport, 1B are areas for business use, and 1C are areas for quarrying. These activities, although generally not compatible with groundwater protection, have been established for a long period of time. Under the existing provisions of the PNRRP these activities will be managed to protect the quality of groundwater in the Recharge Zone.

I own land in the Christchurch Groundwater Recharge Zone 1. What are the restrictions going to be?
The PNRRP policies presently prohibit: new installations that use or store hazardous substances; subdivisions of land for residential, commercial or industrial purposes; and any increase in areas for quarrying. Irrigation is limited to current levels and the effects on groundwater quality from additional intensive farming must be only very small.

The PNNRP policies are given effect to by rules except for rules prohibiting subdivision, as these were to be developed by the CCC and Selwyn DC. Assuming Environment Canterbury proceed to notify a proposed variation 3, then it is likely to introduce rules to control land use,

Will it be to my benefit if I apply for a consent now as opposed to ‘wait and see’ whether the proposed variation is adopted?
The NRRP is currently a “proposed” plan. If you commence a new use of land or create a discharge of a contaminant, then your are subject to the rules of the plan, and decisions on Environment Canterbury resource consents take into account the policies of the plan. However, there are currently no rules in the PNRRP controlling subdivision of land.

Should regional rules be introduced by Variation 3, new land uses commencing after the date the variation is notified will be subject to these rules.

Why do the zone boundaries of the Christchurch Groundwater Recharge Zone need changing?
The boundaries of the Recharge Zone have been drawn based on a number of considerations. These are: the direction of groundwater flow; district and city council boundaries, district plan zone boundaries, and easily identified land features, such as the Waimakariri River, and roads. The boundary of the zone is being reviewed in some locations to achieve a more accurate ‘fit’, based on these considerations. Since the PNRRP was notified, more technical information has become available that may support an alteration to the boundary.

Can I be added to the consultation list?
By providing your name and contact details to Customer Services at Environment Canterbury, you will receive information on the variation as this becomes available.

Can I talk to anyone about the variation?
If you want further information or explanation about the process of preparing Variation 3 or its content, please contact Customer Services.
Public meetings will be held in the West Melton Community Hall, State Highway 73, West Melton, on Tuesday June 28, 2005 7.30pm to 9pm and in the Waiau theatrette, Environment Canterbury, 58 Kilmore Street, Christchurch, Wednesday, June 22 from 7.30pm to 9pm.