Farmers' guide to the regional plans

The Taranaki Regional Council has prepared four regional plans under the Resource Management Act.

These plans aim to improve and maintain the quality of our region's environmental resources our fresh water, soil, coast and our air. They are also designed to enable farmers to go about their daily business with minimal restrictions. The plans do this by setting out policies and rules that govern the environmental effects of various activities.

This Guide is to help those in the dairying and sheep and beef farming industries interpret the four regional plans, and to work out what activities are covered by the requirements of the plans.

Many typical farming activities have very little environmental effect, and may be undertaken without resource consent from the Taranaki Regional Council, provided you can meet the conditions set out in the regional plans. These activities are classified in the plans as permitted activities. Other activities have greater environmental effects. The Regional Council has therefore determined that you must get a resource consent before these activities can be carried out. This is to ensure that environmental effects are avoided or minimised. The plans spell out which activities need resource consents. There are also some activities that are not allowed to be undertaken at all - they are classified in the plans as prohibited.

This booklet sets out the most common farming activities and gives you a guide as to whether they are permitted, whether you need a resource consent before you can do them, or whether they are prohibited. The Guide does not contain all the details in the plans - it is only a guide to help you understand how the various plans affect your farming activities. We can help you work out if a resource consent is required. We can also help you look at different ways of planning and carrying out your operations so that a resource consent may not be needed.

Click on the links in the navigation panel at right to go to the various chapters in this Guide.

Information on resource consents and how to apply for them is provided at the end of this Guide (see How to apply for a resource consent).

If you are unsure of how to meet the conditions or other requirements of the Council's plans, or you want further information on resource consents or any other information or assistance, contact the Taranaki Regional Council. Information and assistance is provided free of charge.

About this Guide

This Guide is not a comprehensive list of all activities and consents required. If you are in any doubt, please refer to the relevant regional plan and/or contact the Taranaki Regional Council.

Regional Plans for Taranaki

* Regional Fresh Water Plan
* Regional Coastal Plan
* Regional Air Quality Plan
* Regional Soil Plan