Reviews

In accordance with 21 (1) (a-c) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water:

This effluent plan was prepared in November 2024 and will be reviewed by November 2025 with the results noted in this section with changes recorded automatically.  The contents of this Effluent Management Plan are available to the regional council on written request.

Location and Ownership

In accordance with 21 (2) (a-e) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

The physical location of the farm where the effluent system is located is 840 Whitstone Five Forks Rd, Five Forks. The dairy sheds are at 940 Whitstone Five Forks Rd, 826 Kakanui Valley Rd and 34 Kakanui Valley Rd, Incholme. 

Refer to the legal descriptions below for full details.

Farm Owner

Borst Holdings Ltd

840 Whitstone Five Forks Rd, 

15CRD, 

Oamaru 9491

sylvia@borstholdings.co.nz

Person in Charge

Rob Borst

0274 715 530

Pleasant Creek Dairy

940 Whitstone-Five Forks Rd, Five Forks

Legal Description

Section 30 Block III Kauru SD

Lot 2 DP 27058

Section 2 SO22854

Total 82.1ha Effluent (35ha Pivot, 7.5ha K Line, 39.6ha Rotorainer).

Cows: 560

Incholme Dairy

826 Kakanui Valley Rd, Incholme

Legal Description

Lot 1, Lot 3, Lot 4, and Lot 7 DP 544925 

Total 153.9ha Effluent (78.7 Rotorainer, 75.2ha pivot consisting of 37.2ha basic pivot and 38.5ha only with VRI).

Cows: 784

Kauroo Flat Dairy

720 Kakanui Valley Rd, Incholme

Legal Description

Lot 5 and Lot 6 DP 544925 

Total 166.1ha Effluent (64.5 Rotorainer, 101.6ha pivot consisting of 64ha basic pivot and 37.6ha only with VRI).

Cows: 1150

Existing Consents

RM14.357.01 Surface Water Take Permit
RM23.713.04 Surface Water Take Permit

RM23.713.03 Surface Water Take Permit

RM23.713.02 Surface Water Take Permit

RM23.713.01 Surface Water Take Permit

RM19.159.01 Groundwater Take Permit

RM20.076.01 To discharge treated (domestic wastewater) to land for the purpose of disposal of wastewater from a residential dwelling.
RM20.074.01 To discharge treated (domestic wastewater) to land for the purpose of disposal of wastewater from a residential dwelling.
RM23.275.01 To discharge treated (domestic wastewater) to land for the purpose of disposal of wastewater from a residential dwelling.

RM20.242.01 To discharge treated (domestic wastewater) to land for the purpose of disposal of wastewater from a residential dwelling. 

RM21.180.02 Discharge to Land Permit: To discharge effluent to land for the purpose of operating an animal waste system for a dairy milking shed (Alderstone).

RM24.678.01 & .02 Discharge to Land Permit: To discharge effluent to land for the purpose of operating an animal waste system for a dairy milking shed (Pleasant Creek, Incholme and Kauroo Flat).

Map

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (e) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water.

Effluent Discharge Area: 402.1ha total consisting of  82.1ha on Pleasant Creek, 153.9ha on Incholme and 166.1ha on Kauroo Flats.

The systems feature gravity feed from the shed through a stone trap to a separator then to the liquids storage pond or tank. 

From the pond or tank the effluent can be pumped directly to the effluent irrigators including pivot, K-Line, Rotorainer and slurry tanker.

Safety features include low and high pressure cutout to prevent spilling effluent in the event of blow outs.

No effluent is to be discharged within:

• 20m upwind of the farm boundary when wind is greater than 10kt, or further if necessary to prevent spray drift crossing the farm boundary

• 50m of any surface watercourse.

• 50m of any subsurface drainage (none known).

• 20m of any water abstraction point.

• 150m of the Five Forks School, Hall, School House and Playgroup.

• 200m of the Five Forks School, Hall, School House and Playgroup when irrigator is upwind in 15kt of wind or more.

Effluent odour must not be detectable outside the boundary of the farm.

Soils

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (e) (iv) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

Risk Profile

The risk profile mainly consists of leaching risk resulting from ponding or over application. This is managed using the various methods described in this effluent management plan.

There is very low risk of over land run off on flat land.

Soil Types and Risk Management

See the S - Map for Pleasant Creek, and the S-Map for Incholme and Kauroo Flats. The Pleasant Creek effluent application area consists mostly of Eyre 4a.1 soils, and the Incholme and Kauru Flats effluent areas are mostly Taumutu 5a.1 soils which are all low risk FDE Category D flat land. According to Dairy NZ industry best practice the maximum effluent irrigation depth allowed is 25mm when a soil water deficit is identified that is greater than the application rate. This is achieved by application using irrigators which apply less than the soil water deficit, specifically rotorainers, K-Line and pivots.

Bucket tests are used to verify application rates and soil moisture deficit is determined a minimum of 24 hours after rain by a calibrated hand-held probe at the next location effluent will be applied. The application rate must not result in exceeding Field Capacity.

• Eyre 4a.1

  • • • Shallow silt loam.

  • Well drained.

  • Moderate profile available water (46mm).

  • FDE risk category D flat land.

• Taum 5a.1

  • • • Shallow silt loam.

      • Well drained.

      • High profile available water (55mm).

      • FDE risk category D flat land.

Subsurface Drains

No subsurface drains are known in the effluent area.

Critical Source Areas

There are no critical source areas on the flat effluent discharge area.

Operational Procedures and Maintenance

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (f) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

The effluent pump is maintained monthly as part of the dairy shed inspection. Maintenance is recorded on Whatsapp. For major issues that can't be repaired in-house contact the effluent specialist.

Electrical issues are to be referred to an electrician.

ORC Fact sheets provide guidance for staff.

Operation

1. Establish there is a soil moisture deficit using the soil moisture meter. This doesn't need to be done every time - only if there has been rain since the last reading. Do not apply effluent if application rate exceeds the soil water deficit, or if there is already ponding. Do not graze if cows will graze it within 24 hours, or if the ground is frozen or covered in snow.

2. Select application area to maximise an even rotation around the entire effluent area then check that effluent will not enter a waterway - including over land, directly or indirectly or through storm water or pipe. Only apply effluent within the effluent area on the map above.

3. Consider wind direction to prevent effluent spray or odour leaving the boundary. In particular do not apply effluent within 150m of the Five Forks school, hall and playgroup. Do not apply effluent within 20m of the road or  when wind may carry odour across the boundary.

4. Check the irrigator is set up, including that drag hose bends have a radius of 1.5m to prevent kinking.

5. Start pump. Listen for unusual noise which may indicate a fault.

6. Inspect system.

7. Record effluent application.

Minimisation of Effluent

• Pre-wet concrete ahead of milking to speed up hose down at the end.

• Cooler water used for washdown.
  
  

Risks

• Water troughs to be avoided.

• Effluent area has been designed to reduce the risk of neighbours experiencing odour.
  
  

Solids

• • • Solids are spread annually, and cannot be spread on the same area more than once every two months, preferably by incorporating into cultivation of land.

    • Solids are not spread onto land when the soil moisture exceeds field capacity; or within 20 metres of waterways.

    • Solids are also not spread where previous applications are still visible on the ground, or where soil moisture exceeds field capacity (a reading of 39% VWC on the soil moisture meter).

    • Hazardous substances, hazardous waste and human effluent is not to be added to the effluent system.

Inspection, Monitoring and Reporting

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (g) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

Inspections

Inspect the system for leaks, ponding and run off each time the pump is started up and in between shifts. Weak points are at the hydrants and the feeder hose. Check for kinks in the hose, holes, leaks or blowouts. Check that the nozzles are under pressure, the irrigator is operating normally. Leaks, ponding, run off and flow through drainage can cause the effluent to enter a waterway or leach beyond the root zone which must not occur.

As part of the monthly shed inspection check the area below the storage tank for wet patches, areas of grass that are greener than the grass surrounding it or any other signs of leaking from the tank. Include a check of the stone traps to ensure they aren't becoming blocked.

Bucket tests are completed every three years on the irrigators to verify application depth and rate.

Monitoring

In addition to the checks after start up staff are to check the same components while the effluent is running if they are passing the irrigator during the day.

All staff are to report any odour from the system to the farm owner if it reaches the farm boundary, or if any complaints are received about the effluent system including odour.

Reporting

When a leak, ponding or run off are discovered the pump must be turned off immediately and the fault reported to the farm owner within half an hour. Where possible the problem should be fixed immediately and recorded.

Pond Drop Test Records

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (h) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

The storage ponds and tanks are permitted activities.

Incholme Storage Pond

Date of last test: 8th July 2024

Date next test is due: 8th July 2029

Incholme Drop Test Report

Incholme DESC

Incholme Visual Inspection

Kauroo Flats Storage Tank

No drop test required to meet permitted activity criteria.

Kauroo Flats Visual Inspection

Kauroo Flats DESC

Pleasant Creek Pond

Date of last test: 8th July 2024

Date next test is due: 8th July 2029

Pleasant Creek Drop Test Report

Pleasant Creek DESC

Pleasant Creek Visual Inspection

Contingency Measures

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (i) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

The effluent system has several measures to prevent discharges to water:

• Staff training

• Monitoring

• Low pressure/high flow automatic pump cut out.

• Low rate application systems.

• Large storage capacity. We never know when we will need to pump to storage or when we can empty the storage so we use every opportunity to drain effluent out of storage and apply to the paddocks. If there is effluent in storage and the soil has the appropriate soil water deficit to irrigate then emptying storage is a priority.

• A slurry tanker is on farm when effluent needs pumped from storage or from the underpass.

• Spare pumps are always kept on hand in case of breakdown.

Leak Response

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (j) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

• When a leak, ponding or run off are discovered the pump must be turned off immediately and the fault reported to the farm owner within half an hour. Where possible the problem should be fixed immediately and recorded.

• For major issues that can't be repaired in-house contact an effluent professional.

• If a leak is detected in the effluent storage pond it must be emptied as soon as possible within the limits of the soil water deficit and the leak found and repaired.

Effluent Complaint Record

A register of effluent complaints must be available to the Otago Regional Council on request. If a complaint is received use this form to collect the following information:

(a) The date, time, location, and nature of the complaint

(b) The name, phone number and address of the complainant – unless the complainant elects not to supply, this information

(c ) Action taken by the consent holder to remedy the situation and any policies or methods put in place to avoid or mitigate the problem occurring again.