Gisborne District Council's Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan (TRMP) includes rules for building a farm dam.
Dams are important on farms for storing water.
The TRMP allows you to build a new dam without a resource consent if the:
- Dam is in an intermittent or temporary stream, or a dry gully.
- Water depth is less than 3 metres.
- Amount of water held by the dam is less than 20, 000m3.
- Catchment area above the dam is less than 5 hectares.
If you can't meet all these requirements - then you will need to apply for a resource consent.
Building a farm dam
Make sure the dam is well designed – get the design checked by a technical expert.
- Include a spillway to allow for floods and overflows.
- Don’t contaminate the water with chemicals or loose dirt during construction.
- Regularly inspect the dam and carry out regular maintenance.