We must set limits to the amount of water that can be taken, so that we can meet the environmental outcomes for the stream or groundwater.
If more water has been allocated by resource consents than the new total allocation available, then the river or groundwater is over-allocated. Council is then required to phase out over-allocation.
We can take a phased approach, so if the river or groundwater is over allocated, we need to work out a timeframe to fix this.
There are many options to fix over allocation and we are engaging with the community and with water users to get the timeframes and methods right. We do expect that when resource consents are renewed, efficient allocation (aligning the amount allocated with the amount needed) will be a key focus.