River-based gravel extraction
We manage the extraction of gravel from riverbeds in Waitaha Canterbury. River-based gravel extraction can help reduce flood risk and provide a source of aggregate for use in community development.
Canterbury’s braided rivers are known for their dynamic nature. These river systems transport large amounts of sediment along their length.
Gravel build-up can reduce the flood-carrying capacity of the river and increase the risk of floods. Poorly managed removal of gravel can cause erosion and undermine the stability of banks and berm vegetation, adjacent properties, or infrastructure.
We monitor changes in many of Canterbury’s riverbed levels and advise on changes in bed level and gravel availability.
Before extracting gravel from a river, you must ensure you have the right permissions to do so.
Gravel Management Strategy
We use the Canterbury Regional River Gravel Management Strategy (GMS) to provide a framework for how we will manage gravel extraction in the region.
The GMS sets out:
- our role in managing gravel extraction
- the outcomes we wish to achieve
- a management framework to deliver those outcomes.
The Strategy focuses on the health and wellbeing of river ecosystems and enhancing flood and river resilience, while:
- enabling opportunities for sustainable development
- environmental restoration and protection
- and improvement of broader river values.
Find out more about the Canterbury Regional River Gravel Management Strategy.
Check gravel availability
We have detailed information on gravel availability for most rivers throughout the region. The river or area you want to extract from may not be subject to regular bed level surveys to determine available volumes, but we may still hold information on that site or may be able to do a field-based assessment.
Rivers we actively survey, we try to maintain a target ‘mean bed level’ that has been established to balance flood and erosion risks and protect infrastructure. If too little gravel is extracted from a riverbed, the flood-carrying capacity of the waterway can be reduced; if too much gravel is extracted, it can increase the risk of erosion.
There is no cost for this. The advice we provide will be required when you proceed to apply for permission, or you can seek independent advice at your own cost.
Once we have received your request, we will provide details on the gravel volume available at the location and what permission options are available to you.
Fill out the gravel availability form for the location you wish to extract from.
Obtain permission to extract river-based gravel
Gravel extraction in Waitaha is managed by regional rules, with different plans applying to specific rivers and areas. Find out about the main ways to get permission to extract gravel from riverbeds.
Region-wide rules: Gravel extractions are primarily controlled by the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (Rules 5.148 and 5.149), which sets out the rules around permitted volumes of extraction for each river, across most of Waitaha.
Waimakariri River catchment rules: The Waimakariri River Regional Plan sets the permitted activity and consenting limits for the Waimakariri River catchment (mainstem lower Waimakariri River and mainstem and tributaries above SH72). The lower 1km of braided rivers may be covered by the Canterbury Regional Coastal Environment Plan. Gravel authorisations cannot be issued in these areas.
Gravel extraction permission pathways
We ensure gravel extraction meets these rules through gravel authorisations and resource consents.
The Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan sets out the following ways to secure permission to extract gravel from riverbeds:
Permitted activity
Under rules 5.148 and 5.149 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) and Rule 7.1 of the Waimakariri River Regional Plan (WRRP) you may be able to extract small amounts of gravel from the bed of a lake or river as a permitted activity, if you're able to meet other specific conditions.
To qualify:
- Extraction limits of between 5 and 50 cubic metres (m³) per year, depending on the specific river and location
- You must comply with all the conditions of the relevant permitted activity rule. These include controls on extraction methodology, and exclusions or timing restrictions in relation to environmental sensitivities.
To provide a high-level indication of what volumes may be extracted currently:
- Up to 50m³ from the Waimakariri River
- Up to 20m³ from other larger rivers
- Up to 10m³ from mid-sized rivers
- Up to 5m³ from all rivers.
In some areas, you may be able to obtain a gravel authorisation to extract volumes up to 60,000m³. Please see the gravel authorisation tab below.
If the proposed extraction exceeds the permitted volume or takes place in an area not provided by the LWRP permitted activity rules - such as Waimakariri River catchment, coastal areas, or within mapped critical habitat/īnanga (whitebait) spawning zones - you will need to apply for a resource consent. Please see the resource consent tab below.
To determine whether your proposed activity can be treated as permitted, contact our advisory team or email gravel@ecan.govt.nz for site‑specific advice.
Gravel authorisations
Under rule 5.149 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP), you may be allowed to extract gravel on our behalf for flooding and erosion hazard management by securing a gravel authorisation. This allows you to operate as a permitted activity.
Gravel authorisation applications are possible where:
- The extraction of gravel supports our flood or erosion management work within a river rating district; or
- The extraction is outside a river rating district, but will alleviate an existing flooding or erosion problem.
Gravel authorisations have standard rules specified in the River Gravel Extraction Code of Practice (PDF File, 1.04MB), which provides the operational guidelines for gravel extraction. However, variations to these standard conditions may be requested when you apply for your authorisation.
Applications can be made by downloading and printing the form (PDF File, 249.86KB). Completed applications can be emailed to gravel@ecan.govt.nz.
Conditions where gravel authorisations cannot be issued
Gravel authorisations can only be issued in areas covered by the LWRP (eg, not the Waimakariri or Coastal Area). Within the LWRP area, authorisations cannot be issued within areas mapped as critical habitat, salmon spawning sites or during 1 Jan to 1 Jun from īnanga (whitebait) spawning habitat. These are listed in the LWRP Planning Maps and Schedule 17 (page 213 of Plan Change 7).
Gravel authorisations cannot provide permission to cross or divert water or install culverts to access the gravel deposits. If these activities are required, you will need to apply for a resource consent.
Sites where we cannot issue gravel authorisations (accordion)
- Clarence River and its tributaries
- Waimakariri River and its tributaries (above Woodstock) including the Kōwai, Bealey and Cass Rivers.
- Orari River: Mouth to Factory Road bridge
- Ōpihi River: Temuka River confluence to SH79 bridge in Fairlie
- Temuka River: Ōpihi River confluence to Oxford Crossing Road
- Waihī River: Oxford Crossing Rd to Beeby Rd
- Tengawai River: Ōpihi confluence to Albury
- Waitaki River: SH1 bridge to dam
- Hakataramea River
Resource consent
All other situations will require you to apply for resource consent(s).
Before you lodge an application, read our consents pages thoroughly. More information on associated costs is available on the consent fees and charges page.
Tips for your gravel-specific application include:
- What volume of gravel is required? Have you already obtained gravel availability advice?
- Is it for ongoing works over a period of several months or years, or is it a one-off take for a particular job?
- It is more efficient to apply for all the required consents at once. Have you considered the need for temporary culverts or air discharges?
- Do you know who owns the land? Landowner permission is likely required.
- How soon do you need the gravel? Depending on the number of applications in process, there could be a delay.
Note: If your application is to ‘disturb the bed’ and reshape the riverbed for river control purposes, it receives a different classification and may not be subject to gravel charges. Contact us on gravel@ecan.govt.nz for more information.
If you no longer require your resource consent, it can be surrendered or transferred to another user. These forms can be found under 'general process forms' in resource consent application forms.
Costs for extracting river-based gravel
The funding and fee structure is set through the Council’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan processes.
The riverbed survey analysis we undertake informs flood hazard management and gravel availability, so the cost of this work is funded by a mix of general rates and a targeted fee charged to gravel extractors (a gravel management fee).
The gravel extractors’ contribution is collected through gravel management fees ($0.23 per cubic metre), which are based on the volume of gravel authorised to be extracted, even if you don't end up taking any.
This is to encourage extractors to only apply for the volumes they require, and so each gravel extractor’s contribution towards the costs of this programme is relative to the scale of their extraction.
You will need to consider whether the cost involved in obtaining a gravel authorisation or resource consent is justified and what ongoing costs are involved, such as compliance monitoring. It may be cheaper to source gravel from a local supplier.
Once you have worked out which option for securing permission suits your needs, you can estimate how much it will cost using the following table.
View current schedule of gravel extraction costs
| Current July 2024 |
Permitted activity | Gravel authorisation | Resource consent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | 5m³/yr - 50 m³/yr River dependent – contact us to enquire about your site. |
South Canterbury: 30,000m³ max Central/North: 60,000m³ max. |
Any volume. Note: our river engineers advocate for the same maximum volumes as gravel authorisations. |
| Duration | No restriction | 12 months maximum. |
Up to 35 years. Note: long durations are unlikely, our river engineers advocate for a max. duration of 12 months. |
| Costs | No charge, Although not compulsory a Certificate of Compliance can be sought for $2,220 (includes GST) |
1,500m³ or less: $460 Greater than 1,500m³: $977.50 (includes GST). |
Consent application deposit: <20,000 m³ per annum $2,500 |
| Gravel management fee | Nil | $0.23/m³ (includes GST) |
$0.23/m³ (includes GST) |
| Monitoring charges | Nil | $166.75 per hour for monitoring $105.00 per hour for administration (includes GST) |
$166.75 per hour for monitoring $105.00 per hour for administration (includes GST) |
Gravel agreements and committees
South Canterbury gravel agreement
We work closely with key stakeholders and partners, including industry, to sustainably manage the extraction of gravel in Canterbury.
In South Canterbury (Rangitata River and south), Environment Canterbury and members of the gravel extraction industry have signed the Southern Canterbury Gravel Agreement (commonly referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU).
This limits consents and authorisations to a maximum volume of 30,000 m³ and duration of 12 months enabling better flood management in rivers and creating a level playing field for signatories.
To ensure the success of the agreement, any new gravel extractors in South Canterbury are invited to become signatories prior to applying for a consent or authorisation.
Gravel Liaison Committee
We also host the Gravel Liaison Committee, which is an advisory group set up to facilitate and communicate information relating to river-based gravel extraction in Canterbury. The Committee includes the Regional Council, mana whenua, stakeholders and gravel extraction industry representatives.
The nominated gravel representatives are divided across four regions of Canterbury. To connect with your local gravel extraction industry representative, please email gravel@ecan.govt.nz
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