Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) regulations are now live in parts of Waikato and Southland.
Growers in the Waipa catchment in Waikato and the Aparima catchment in Southland now have 18 months to prepare an FWFP for certification. The steps involved in preparing an FWFP are:
- Identify catchment context and values relevant to the farm
- Identify risks to freshwater from farm activities and inherent farm properties (soil type, slope, climate, proximity to waterways etc.)
- Identify existing actions that mitigate risks and identify any further actions required
- Prioritise mitigating actions and prepare an action plan
- Engage a certifier to certify that the FWFP identifies the relevant risks to freshwater and that appropriate actions are proposed to mitigate risks
Growers can prepare the FWFP themselves or seek help from a farm consultant. FAR is preparing an arable-specific FWFP template and guidance documents that will be available to growers soon, and will also provide support for growers wishing to prepare their own plans.
For more information on the requirements for Waikato and Southland growers see:
Southland Regional Council have developed a map-based catchment context tool to help growers identify the relevant catchment context and values for their farm - find it here.
The regulations will be ‘switched on’ in other catchments in Waikato and Southland over the next few months, and in other regions over the next two years.