On-orchard toilets (Bay of Plenty)
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) requires growers with on-orchard toilets to apply and have these deemed as a permitted activity as they are not explicitly covered under the permitted activity rules of the Councils operative plan. There are two important dates for the upgrading of wastewater systems on orchards: Systems commonly called ‘Flush to ground’ were to be replaced by 1 December 2020; and pit latrines must be replaced by 1 December 2022.
Please refer to the technical guidelines and rules for toilets on orchards here.
Deemed permitted activities are those where there is a marginal non-compliance with a rule. This is often relevant to orchard toilets as the activity in most cases will meet all of the criteria listed in Rule 3 of our regional plan with the exception of their purpose. Please familiarise yourself with the requirements of Rule 3 of the regional plan here – from page 65.
If your orchard toilet can comply with Rule 3 (bar its purpose) it is important that you have engaged with one of the Councils approved designers before you submitting your application form. A list of council approved designers can be found on the BOPRC website.
The pathway to on-orchard toilet compliance is summarised here.
For any questions, please contact the Councils duty consents officer on 0800 884 881 extension 9090 or email consents.queries@boprc.govt.nz
