Tools and resources

Consent search

Our consent search allows you to look at any resource consent document held by us.

Resource consents can be searched by number or name of record holder.

Searching for existing consent applications for similar activities or locations can be helpful in identifying how your application can best be written.

Well search

Our well search displays a summary of information that we have on a specified well or bore, including the location, dimensions and construction of wells, along with water level and bore log data, some of which can be downloaded.

Aquifer test guidelines

Information about aquifer testing:

Review of aquifer tests forms. These forms include the information to request a pre-application review of an aquifer test:

Guidelines and analysis tools for reviewing aquifer tests:

This Excel-based tool allows the analysis of aquifer test data with multiple flow rates including recovery, using a range of solutions for different aquifer conditions. It can be used to test the sensitivity of parameters.

Guidance on dewatering abstractions

This dewatering guidance document is aimed at providing external consultants/applicants with useful analytical tools and information to assist with the assessment and preparation of dewatering consent applications in Canterbury.

Dewatering is managed in the majority of the Canterbury Region under the Land and Water Regional Plan. In some cases other plans, or even Water Conservations Orders manage the abstraction of water, with some including specificity around dewatering.

Download dewatering guidance (PDF file, 2.88MB)

Well interference assessment tool

Our groundwater Well Interference Assessment tool is a web application that allows you to assess the potential effects of a groundwater abstraction on neighbouring bores in accordance with the plan requirements.

View instructions for the tool (PDF file, 464KB).

Drawdown tool

Our Excel-based drawdown tool calculates pumping-induced drawdown versus time and drawdown versus distance for radial flow to a well under confined or leaky conditions. It uses the Theis or Hantush-Jacob functions supplied by Dr Bruce Hunt of the University of Canterbury.

Download and use the drawdown tool (XLS file, 146.5KB).

Stream depletion tools

This is an Excel-based analysis tool that can be used to calculate the effect of pumping on nearby waterbodies. It incorporates solutions by Theis (1935)/Jenkins; Hunt (1999); Hunt (2003); and Ward-Lough (2011).

Download and use version 4 of the stream depletion tool (XLS file, 572KB)

Two-aquifer system tool

This is an Excel-based analysis that can be used to calculate pumping-induced drawdown and volume distribution in a two-aquifer system. It uses the Hunt & Scott (2007) solution.

IrriCalc

IrriCalc is used to establish annual volumes required for irrigation in accordance with method 2 of Schedule 10 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan. It is a soil moisture balance model developed by Aqualinc Research Limited (ARL).

A set of criteria has been developed in consultation between Environment Canterbury, ARL and Irrigation NZ to provide consultants and farmers with requirements for a model and data used to calculate seasonal irrigation volumes.

The annual volume calculated using the model must be compliant with the following criteria:

an irrigation application efficiency of 80 per cent
a system capacity to meet peak demand (half a litre per second per hectare)
a nominal irrigation season from 1 September to 30 April 30, and
demand conditions that occur in nine out of 10 years.

Download the IrriCalc Guidance Document (PDF file, 59.29KB) for detailed information.

Annual volume calculator

This tool allows you to calculate an annual volume required for irrigation in accordance with method 3 of Schedule 10 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan.

You will need the following information from your pumping schedule:

The maximum volume (actual or intended) per Return Period. Return Period is the time (in days) between successive irrigations.
Length of return period (actual or intended).

To find this information:

Check the consent details sent to you from us or search using our consent search.
The instructions on the use of the spreadsheet show how to determine the maximum volume if it is not explicitly stated in an existing consent.

You will also need to know:

the area (in hectares) to be irrigated
Profile Available Water (PAW) per 1m of soil profile
effective irrigation season rainfall not exceeded 60% of the time.

Information on Profile Available Water (PAW) and effective irrigation season rainfall can be obtained using Canterbury Maps.

To use the calculator download the Annual volume calculator analysis (XLS file, 61KB) and follow the instructions (PDF file, 575 KB).

If you want to calculate an annual volume for more than one consent, or if the properties are geographically separate, you will have to run a separate calculation for each consent/property.

Erosion and sediment control toolbox for Canterbury

The erosion and sediment control toolbox provides practical resources for anyone involved with any type of earthworks on the land or near water — projects large and small. It provides guidance for minimising the adverse effects of erosion and sedimentation while planning, constructing and maintaining a project.

Builder's pocket guide

People who are constructing houses on small sites or companies managing the construction of commercial sites can refer to the Erosion and Sediment Control Guideline for Small Sites (PDF file, 1.78MB).

Geographic Information systems (GIS): Canterbury Maps

The Canterbury Maps website provides free access to maps, records, information and data from the local government councils in the Canterbury region.

Interactive maps provide many easy-to-use ways to look at and find information resources held by the councils.

The maps can be used from any computer, touchscreen or mobile device with an internet connection, using a map viewer similar in operation to Google Maps. No special license, subscription or software is required.

Guidance for resource management practitioners

Use our technical advice and guidance notes to understand what activities may require a resource consent and how to prepare a consent application.