Defences against water Code of Practice

Determine eligibility

The Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan enables local authorities and network utility operators in Canterbury to undertake conditional work on defences against water.

Local authorities and network utility operators can install and undertake maintenance on defences against water under Rule 5.138 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan. This is a permitted activity, provided all of the conditions are met.

Understand what is permitted

The permitted activities include:

• installation, maintenance, use, and removal of defences against water in, on, or under the bed of a lake or river.
• associated deposition of substances, diversions, sediment discharges, and bed disturbance.
• diversion and discharge of sediment-laden water into an artificial watercourse.

Check the conditions

Conditions that must be met are:

• the activity must not block access to lawfully established structures
• the activity (aside from using defences against water) must not occur in, on, or under:
  • high naturalness waterbodies
  • salmon spawning sites
  • inanga spawning habitats (1 March to 1 June)
  • critical habitats
• the activity must be carried out by or on behalf of a local authority or network utility operator with a plan certified by the CRC in line with the Canterbury Regional Code of Practice for Defences Against Water and Drainage Schemes (April 2019)
• the works or structures must not block existing fish passage.

Prepare a work plan

Local authorities and network utility operators must apply to us for work plan certification following the Code of Practice. Work plans should outline how requirements will be achieved.

Certification confirms that the work plan meets the Code's provisions but does not guarantee the work as a permitted activity or provide other statutory approvals.

Types of work plans

• Annual work plans: Submit by 31 May for processing by 30 June. Plans submitted after this date will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Job-specific work plans: Submit at least 10 working days before the start date, or as soon as possible for urgent repairs.

Work plan requirements

Certified work plans must include:

• details of the responsible authority/operator and contact person
• location and scope of work
• timing, duration, and frequency of activities
• access details and sediment/erosion control measures
• methods to manage environmental effects and comply with the Code of Practice.

Submit for certification

Send your completed work plan to: floodbylaw@ecan.govt.nz

Certification confirms your work plan complies with the Code of Practice. It does not grant resource consent or other statutory approvals.