Plan Change 10 introduced rules to limit the amount of nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua from land use, in order to improve water quality.
The rules set out how Nitrogen Discharge Allocation will be allocated to individual rural properties and were developed in consultation with members of the Rotorua community, including our partners of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust.
The plan change is part of an integrated programme aimed at improving the quality of the water in Lake Rotorua, which is led by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme.
Key dates at a glance:
- 2 August 2017 – decisions made by Council on recommendations from independent hearing panel
- 15 August 2017 – decisions publicly notified
- 26 September 2017 – deadline for appeals to be lodged with the Environment Court
- 26 June 2018 – consent order issues – resolves appeals relating to infrastructure and wastewater treatment
- 4 to 8 March 2019 – Environment Court stage one hearing
- 9 August 2019 – Environment Court interim decision
- 2 June 2020 – consent order issued - resolves all outstanding appeal issues except nitrogen allocation to treaty settlement land
- 7 to 10 September 2020 – Environment Court stage two hearing
- 21 December 2020 – Environment Court final decision
- 29 January 2021 – Final version of Plan Change 10 provided to Environment Court for approval
- 12 April 2021 – Environment Court Decision on the final wording of Plan Change 10
- 4 May 2021 – Council approved Plan Change 10 and its consequential amendments and also disestablished the Plan Change 10 Appeals Subcommittee
- 16 November 2022 - Operative date
Operative version
- Operative Plan Change 10 (Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management) – Clear copy version – October 2022
- Operative Plan Change 10 (Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management) – Tracked change version – October 2022
- Consequential changes to the Regional Natural Resources Plan as a result of Plan Change 10 – Tracked change version