Hawke’s Bay is home to outstanding water bodies, and the Regional Council wants people to have their say on a plan change that aims to protect their special features.
Hawke’s Bay is home to outstanding water bodies, and the Regional Council wants people to have their say on a plan change that aims to protect their special features.
Senior Planner Belinda Harper says the water bodies identified in proposed Plan Change 7, also known as the Outstanding Water Bodies Plan Change, have been identified by the Regional Council as ‘best of the best’ in the region.
“Each water body has been identified as containing a value which stands out in Hawke’s Bay, such as ecology, natural character, landscapes, geology, cultural, spiritual or recreational,” she says.
“The plan change aims to put a framework in place to give a high level of protection to these outstanding features, now and for future generations.”
It also amends the Hawke’s Bay Regional Resource Management Plan to include a list of the region’s outstanding water bodies.
Proposed Plan Change 7 is open for public submissions, which close at 5.00pm on 28 February 2020.
Ms Harper is encouraging people to have their say.
“We want to hear from as many people, iwi and interest groups as possible. We have a six month long submission period so we want to get as much feedback as possible to really reflect the Hawke’s Bay community,” she says.
Submissions can be made on Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s website hbrc.govt.nz by searching #OWB.
You can download a submission form from the website, or pick one up from the Regional Council’s offices in Waipukurau, Wairoa and Napier. If you have any questions about Proposed Plan Change 7, please contact a member of the Policy and Planning Team on 06 835 9200 or email OWB@hbrc.govt.nz.
There are 38 outstanding water bodies proposed in the Outstanding Water Bodies Plan Change.
These are:
Hautapu River
Heretaunga Aquifer
Karamu River
Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges wetlands
Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rototuna (Kaweka Lakes)
Lake Poukawa and Pekapeka Swamp
Lake Tūtira (including Aropaoanui River and Papkiri Stream)
Lake Waikareiti
Lake Waikaremoana
Whakakī Lake – Te Paeroa lagoon – Wairau Lagoon and Wetlands
Lake Whatumā
Makirikiri Stream
Mangahouanga Stream
Maungawhio Lagoon
lower Kopuawhara River
Pukenui Dunes Wetlands
Mohaka River
Morere Springs
Ngamatea East Swamp
Ngaruroro River and Estuary
Nuhaka River
Opoutama Swamp
Pōrangahau River and Estuary
Putere Lakes
Ripia River
Ruakituri River
Ruataniwha Aquifer
Tarawera Hot Springs
Taruarau River
Te Hoe River
Te Paerahi River
Te Whanganui a Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary)
Tukituki River and Estuary
Tūtaekurī River
Waiau River
Waihua River
Waikaretaheke River
Waipawa River
Waipunga River
Wairoa River