There are a lot of rules and guidelines that farmers need to understand.
These rules apply to farming activities, with information on when you might need a resource consent, useful links, relevant dates and answers to frequently asked questions.
Our consent team is here to help you understand everything about resource consents, when you need one, what the rules are, and how to apply.
If you're ever unsure, contact our consent enquiries team who can help with consent information on 0800 474 082 or consent.enquires.orc.govt.nz
It is important to be aware of the national and regional rules when carrying out any activities in or near rivers, lakes or wetlands.
You might need permission if you're changing farming practices in Otago, like adding more irrigation to dairy farms, switching land to dairy farming, turning forests into farmland, or growing dairy support areas. The rules are to stop more contaminants and match national and local environmental standards. ORC is here to help.
Well-managed effluent is a great source of fertiliser. Making sure it stays on the land and doesn’t leach or runoff (to water) helps ensure local waterways (rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands) stay healthy.
Catchment advisors provide advice and assistance that contribute to positive environmental outcomes for catchments.
If you’re planning on running a composting operation of any size, there are some rules in the regional Water Plan and Waste Plan that you need to take into consideration.
Critical Source Areas (CSAs) are landscape features that collect runoff and direct it to water bodies, and need to be managed to reduce sediment, bacteria and phosphorus getting into waterways.
A dam's safety is dependent on its design and construction, how it is operated, and how its maintained.
Our road maintenance protects you from negative environmental effects, such as dust generation on unsealed roads.
Feedlots and stockholding areas need to meet certain standards from the National Enviornmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-FW). ORC is here to help you understand the NES-FW, and where you may need a resource consent.
The forestry sector is important to Otago's economy. However, forestry can have negative effects on our environment, especially water quality.
Freshwater farm plans are a practical way for farmers and growers to identify, manage and reduce the impact of farming on the freshwater environment.
There is funding available for community-led projects that protect, enhance or promote Otago's environment including our ECO Fund and financial support for resource consent processing that meet certain criteria.
Waterway health can be affected by how land is managed. If you're a farmer, viticulturalist, horticulturalist, or any other type of land owner, here are some fact sheets to help. Get tips for good practices in your farm management
We work with the community to ensure the sustainable use of our natural resources. One such way is by ensuring the safe and sustainable extraction of alluvium (rock, gravel, sand and silt).
We know that intensive grazing is an essential element of many Otago farming systems, but when it’s not managed well it can result in significant nutrient and sediment losses into waterways that may negatively impact on water quality.
If you have a landfill or an offal pit on your property, you must ensure that it isn’t polluting the land, water or air.
Managing your own silage and compost can be cost-effective, but needs to be carefully managed.
If unpleasant smells bother you, let ORC know. Industry, farming, and treatment facilities can cause disruptions. ORC helps with effective odour management.
Some outdoor burning is allowed, but are you burning rubbish or toasting marshmallows? We have tips to help you reduce the pollution caused by outdoor fires.
Each year, New Zealand accumulates millions of used tyres, resulting in larger outdoor stockpiles. To address safety and environmental concerns, regulations for storing tyres outdoors have been put in place, including guidelines for different quantities of tyres.
If you want to undertake stream clearance at any scale, you will require resource consent.
Find out about standards for traps, if you need a resource consent and to access an application form.
There are rules under both our Regional Water Plan and the Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations 2020 which restrict stock access to water.
Stock effluent spillage from cartage trucks onto Otago roads can be dangerous to other road users and cause problems.
Since 1 July 2021, synthetic nitrogen fertiliser on pastoral land (20ha+) is capped, but we have tools to help you meet these environmental standards.
