When Variation 9 was developed in 2007, it set out the additions that are proposed to Schedule WQN1 of Chapter 5 of the Proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan (NRRP). The additions are being made in order to give effect to Policy WQN5 (WQN4 of the operative Natural Resources Regional Plan) of the Proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan whereby the existing minimum flows on the Waihao River and tributaries of the Wainono Lagoon, set under individual consents, have been reviewed to take into account the needs of both instream values and those of irrigators. For each site, an allocation regime for future water use is also included. The additions are to be incorporated by way of a Variation pursuant to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) Schedule 1, Section 16A.

Variation 9 was notified on 25 August 2007. Submissions closed on 5 October 2007 and 23 submissions were received . The Summary of Decisions Requested (SODR) was notified on the 26th January 2008. Further Submissions for Variation 9 closed at 5 pm on the 29th February 2008.

A review of the Variation has occurred in 2010-2011 and more information is available under Regional Plans in Development .

Stage in the Variation process: Further Submissions Closed.