Verhoeven Feed Pad Resource Consent | Scotts Gap
SLWP helped secure resource consent and consent variations for a new feed pad and effluent system in Scotts Gap, Southland — delivered efficiently and without delays.
Case Study: Verhoeven Feed Pad Resource Consent
Location: Scotts Gap, Southland
Resource consents: February 2022
The Challenge
SLWP was engaged to prepare a resource consent application for a proposed feed pad. During the initial site visit, we identified that the existing effluent storage infrastructure differed from what had been consented (for example, the effluent pond and sludge bed were larger than the approved design).
This required a careful assessment of the discrepancies and a determination of the most appropriate consenting pathway to get the existing system compliant while incorporating the additional effluent generated by the new feed pad activity.
Our Solution
Our planning team stepped in to:
Work with the owners to understand the reasons why the existing effluent storage infrastructure did not match what had been consented.
Identify the specific land use consent and discharge permit conditions requiring variation to regularise the existing system and to incorporate the additional effluent generated from the feed pad activity.
Run a Dairy Effluent Calculator Report to confirm the farm had enough storage for the extra effluent from the feed pad activity and that the owners could use the pad outside of the traditional Autumn-Spring window.
Prepare and lodge resource consents under both the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan (as a discretionary activity) and the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Freshwater) Regulations (as a discretionary activity). In addition to applying for resource consent for the feed pad, we applied for section 127 variations to a total of more than 10 consent conditions to reflect what was on site and reference new information.
Review draft conditions and provide Council with feedback to ensure the conditions were workable.
Identify the conditions that needed to be met before the feed pad consent could be exercised.
The application was processed by Environment Southland without any Section 92 requests for further information and resource consents were successfully obtained. The application was lodged and successfully granted in a timely manner enabling the landowner to commence construction prior to the winter period.
The Outcome
The resource consent application was processed non-notified, and a new consent for the use of land for a feed pad, along with variations to the existing consents for the property to (1) allow for the discharge of effluent captured from the pad, (2) better reflect actual on-farm practices, and (3) incorporate the new information provided with the application. All three consents were granted without delay, giving the owners certainty around its effluent storage infrastructure.
Ben Verhoeven states, “As for consent process, can't really think of what could of been done better”, describing it as a “real professional job”.
Need Help With Your Farm?
Whether you need a resource consent or a variation of a current consent, a farm environment plan or a consent monitoring plan, such as an effluent management plan, we understand farm systems and resource management. We work with you to understand your requirements and work through consenting requirements, providing a down-to-earth approach from first enquiry to final approval.
Contact us today to see how we can support your project.