B-2 – Area 2 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 95 o Implementation of a weed and pest management programmed; o Nurturing of natural regrowth of wetland plants; o staged planting of wetland plants within the wetland; o the hydrological (surface and groundwater) connection and hydrological replenishment is maintained; o ongoing protection through a covenant or similarly binding legal agreement that applies in perpetuity; and, The WRS will not be a permanent feature and will only be in place for a period of up to ten years. On the removal of the WRS and the reinstatement of Unnamed Tributary 2, the original catchment area will be reinstated. Accordingly, the loss of catchment area associated with the WRS and the associated management measures are not contrary to the outcomes sought by this policy. 7.4.1.3 Policy 7 Policy 7 of NPSFM seeks to ensure the loss of river extent and values is avoided to the extent practicable. This is supported by clause 3.24 of the NPSFM which requires Regional Councils to include a new provision in their regional plans which guides how this policy will be implemented at a regional level.11 Collectively, these provisions direct that river loss be avoided, unless: there is functional need to locate the activity in way that causes loss of river extent and values; and if a functional need exists, the effects of the activity are managed in accordance with the effects management hierarchy described in Clause 3.21(1) of the NPSFM. Specifically, the effects management hierarchy requires that: o Adverse effects are avoided where practicable; o Where adverse effects cannot be avoided, they are minimised where practicable; o Where adverse effects cannot be minimised, they are remedied where practicable; o Where more than minor residual effects cannot be avoided, minimised or remedied, aquatic offsetting is provided where possible; o If aquatic offsetting of more than minor residual effects is not possible, aquatic compensation is provided; and 11 Policy 3.A.3, Waikato Regional Plan.
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