About freshwater farm plans (FWFP)
Marlborough’s farmers are already making good progress in improving freshwater quality. Many belong to catchment groups, have farm plans and are working to minimise environmental impact. Freshwater Farm Plans will continue to build on the work that many land operators are already doing to manage risks to freshwater.
Who will need a freshwater farm plan?
Current regulations refer to farmers, growers and producers who are responsible for managing farming activities a Farm Operator.
A Farm Operator will need a freshwater farm plan if they have:
- 50 hectares or more in pastoral, arable, or mixed land use
- 50 hectares or more of viticultural or orcharding land use
- 5 hectares or more in commercial vegetable growing or other horticultural use
- A commercial dairy farm.
What do I need to include in a freshwater farm plan?
This list is indicative; for complete details on what is required, please refer to the guiding documents from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE).
Go to the freshwater farm plans section on the MfE website
It is expected that Freshwater Farm Plans (FWFP) will need to include information on:
- specific information about the catchment the property is located in. Referred to as the catchment context, challenges, values (CCCV)
- environmental risk identification and prioritisation – including the identification of waterways, wetlands and contaminant pathways to streams, termed critical source areas (CSA).
- actions to mitigate risks – including plans to strategically fence waterways, restore wetlands, and any intensive winter grazing plans.
- how identified actions in the FWFP will support the farm operator to manage risks to freshwater. These could include stock exclusion rules, synthetic nitrogen cap, intensive winter grazing, stock holding, and wetland rules, where applicable.
- how the Freshwater Farm Plan will meet the relevant rules contained within the Marlborough Environment Plan.
How do I create a freshwater farm plan?
Freshwater Farm Plans will need to accurately reflect a considerable amount of information. Professional support to develop the first plan should be considered, although anyone can develop a FWFP. There are several pathways to complete a plan, including:
- approved industry body’s (by Ministry for the Environment) will implement their own assurance programmes that incorporate all regulatory requirements
- farmers not aligned to an industry assurance programme can engage a FWFP certifier, advisor, or consultant to help develop a plan. A list of approved certifiers for Marlborough will be available on Council website
- farmers not aligned to an industry assurance programme can design a FWFP relevant to a property, to include leased land. Farmers may use Ministry of the Environment (MfE) guidance documents or specific electronic step by step FWFP application or similar tool
- update an existing farm environment plan or other farm plan to meet FWFP requirements.
