Environment Court confirms its decision on Plan Change 1

Ten years after it was first notified, Plan Change 1, a policy developed to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā rivers and support their long-term restoration, has been confirmed by the Environment Court.

Commonly known as Plan Change 1 or PC1, the groundbreaking plan change was developed by a collaborative stakeholder group representing sector, industry and community interests to respond to government direction and the findings of an independent audit from the Office of the Auditor General.

In June, the Environment Court issued its final decision on the plan change, subject to agreement on 20 specific changes being made by the council. One final court-requested amendment was lodged by the council with the court on Monday. Late yesterday the council was advised the final version of PC1 “complies appropriately with all of the directions made by the court”.

Waikato Regional Council Chair Warren Maher said: “We welcome the Environment Court’s final decision and the certainty it provides after a lengthy and complex process, while recognising there are still outstanding High Court appeals on matters of law to be resolved.”

Once the appeals have been determined, the council will undertake the statutory step of confirming Plan Change 1 as part of the operative Waikato Regional Plan.   

Recent amendments made by the Government to the Resource Management Act mean implementation of some parts of Plan Change 1 have been parked. Farm environment plan and associated consent deadlines are postponed until 31 December 2032, but minimum farming standards and controls on land-use change and intensification remain.

Council Chief Executive Chris McLay said: “Plan Change 1 is the result of 14 years’ work by iwi, farmers, growers, industry representatives, community members and council staff, making this a significant step for everyone who has contributed to its development.

“As implementation progresses, the council will continue to provide practical guidance and support to farmers and growers to meet the plan’s requirements,” Mr McLay said.

PC1 represents the first step in an 80-year journey towards rivers with improved water quality, that are safe for food gathering along their entire length and meet the requirements of Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato, the legislated Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River.

It is a change to the Waikato Regional Plan, developed with the community, to allow for the management of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and bacteria in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments.

The plan change has rules to manage point source discharges (such as sewage from towns and waste from factories) and non-point source discharges linked to agriculture.