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Gravel takes from rivers

Freshwater plan fact sheet

Gisborne District Council's Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan (TRMP) includes rules for taking gravel from rivers to help protect the resource, the water quality and native fish and birds.

You can take gravel from most rivers without resource consent, if you meet these conditions:

  • only up to 30 cubic metres per person, per year.
  • gravel is taken from the dry riverbed – 2m from the bank and the water channel.
  • No more than 50cm depth of gravel is taken.
  • No gravel is taken from within 10m of any structure in the bed.
  • Unused material is redistributed within the dry riverbed to keep bed level the same.

You can not take gravel from rivers during time periods listed in the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan - Part  G Schedule (G15) Aquatic Ecosystems Waterbodies.

This includes:

  • the tidal reaches of rivers and streams between 1 March and 31 May to protect whitebait spawning areas
  • streams where there are important native fisheries between 1 May and 30 August
  • streams which are important trout breeding areas between 15 August and 15 October
  • rivers where banded and New Zealand dotterel nest between 31 August and 31 December.
  • If you come across an archaeological site, stop work immediately and contact us or Heritage New Zealand.

If you don't meet all of these conditions, then a resource consent is required

  • Make sure you don’t block public access during works.
  • Refuel your machinery away from the river.
  • Machinery should be moved above the flood level after each day's work.
  • Don’t leave depressions or holes in the excavation site after each day's work.