To protect the quality of water and the stability of stream banks, it is good practice to construct proper stream crossings such as culverts, fords or bridges for both stock movement and farm vehicles.
Note that the Fresh Water Plan covers constructing, maintaining and removing a stream crossing. It also deals with existing crossings.
Existing crossings
If you have an existing structure, then as long as it was in place before the Fresh Water Plan was notified (on 28 February 1998), and it does not restrict fish passage or have any other significant effects on aquatic life or stream habitat, then you do not need a resource consent for it.
Maintenance of crossings
If you need to carry out maintenance, repair or upgrading work on your culvert, bridge or ford, you can do so without a resource consent as long as:
- if you need to divert any water during maintenance, ensure that this is for a period of not more than 48 hours
- no contaminants from equipment are allowed to enter the river (make sure you do not refuel any equipment in the riverbed)
- you minimise the disturbance, especially of sediment
- there are no harmful effects on aquatic life or habitat in the stream
- any material removed from the structure or used during maintenance is removed from the riverbed when you have completed the work.
If you cannot meet any of these requirements, you will need to apply for a resource consent.
Construction of new crossings
You do not require a resource consent to build a culvert, bridge or ford as long as you can meet all of the following requirements:
- the culvert must be less than one metre in diameter, be covered by no more than one metre of fill, and be less than 25m long
- a bridge must not have any abutments or piers in the riverbed, and its soffit must be level with or above the adjoin- ing ground level at the top of the bank
- a ford must not raise the level of the streambed more than 300mm
- the cross-sectional area of the riverbed where you are building the bridge, culvert or ford must be less than 10 square metres
- you must make sure that the channel of the stream is not altered or its ability to carry flood waters is not restricted o there must be no significant environmental effects, including erosion
- fish passage must not be restricted
- you must not disturb the riverbed during winter (from 1 May to 31 October, during the fish spawning season and when there is a greater likelihood of floods)
- you must also let the Taranaki Regional Council know that you intend to construct a stream crossing, at least two working days before you start work.
If you cannot meet any of these requirements, then you will need to apply for a resource consent.
Removal of crossings
If you intend to remove a bridge, ford or culvert you can do so without a resource consent as long as:
- you do not use explosives in the water
- the structure that you are removing does not alter the level of the streambed by more than 500mm
- the width of the streambed is less than ten metres
- you remove the structure completely from the riverbed
- the structure is not on or in an area listed in the Historic Places Trust register or is an identified wahi tapu
- you minimise disturbance of the riverbed and there are no significant environmental effects
- you do not disturb the riverbed during winter (from 1 May to 31 October)
- you also let the Taranaki Regional Council know that you intend to remove a structure from a riverbed, at least two working days before you start work.
You need to apply for a consent if you cannot meet these requirements. However as long as the structure, or the part that is being removed, is completely removed from the streambed, your consent will be granted by the Taranaki Regional Council.
REFER TO FRESH WATER PLAN
You also need to check with your local district council, as a building consent may also be required.
CHECK WITH NEW PLYMOUTH, STRATFORD, OR SOUTH TARANAKI DISTRICT COUNCILS