Environmental Management Plans

Some businesses within Napier’s industrial zones are required to prepare Environmental Management Plans (EMPs). An EMP is a tool that looks at activities on a site and how they may generate runoff into the stormwater system. It assesses where any contaminants might come from and the likelihood they will contaminate stormwater. In Napier, stormwater discharges to Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri estuary) and the ocean through urban waterways. The Estuary and our urban waterways are degraded and water quality needs to be improved to allow for safer recreation, increasing biodiversity, reducing algal growth and a whole number of other environmental, social, visual reasons. Water quality affects everybody.

Napier City Council is investing in a number of different areas to help improve our waterways but we need you to do your part to make this effective. If everyone does their own little bit (in this case commercial activities) we can collectively make wholesale improvements to our environment.

Industrial areas contribute significantly to the contaminant loading in the estuary which is why working with them to improve processes and practices is a priority for us. EMPs will help businesses to identify and reduce contaminants coming from their operations and lower the overall contribution of contaminants to our water bodies.

Environmental Management Plan Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EMP?

An EMP is a tool that looks at activities on a site and how they may generate runoff into the stormwater system. It assesses where any contaminants might come from and the likelihood they will contaminate stormwater.

Why do we need an EMP?

The Ahuriri Estuary and Napier’s urban waterways are severely degraded and water quality needs to be improved to allow for safer recreation, increasing biodiversity, reducing algal growth and a whole number of other environmental, social, visual reasons. Water quality affects everybody.

Napier City Council are investing in a number of different areas to help improve our waterways but we need you to do your part to make this effective. If everyone does their own little bit (in this case commercial activities) we can collectively make wholesale improvements to our environment.

The Onekawa industrial area contributes significantly to the contaminant loading in the estuary which is why it’s one of the priority work areas. EMPs will help businesses to identify and reduce contaminants coming from their operations and lower the overall contribution of contaminants to our water bodies.

What does an EMP cover?

An EMP sets out how a business will operate to manage pollution risks, detailing:

Site location, activities, materials, products
Site risk of causing land and water pollution and how you will manage these risks
Any trade waste management
Programmes and systems to ensure the EMP is effective in reducing your risks.

What is stormwater?

Stormwater is essentially rainfall landing on the ground. The rainwater then either soaks to ground or flows over ground, typically to the roadside or piped network. This then goes into a creek, Ahuriri Estuary or the Ocean. In Napier, stormwater enters the environment without any kind of treatment and any contaminants (dirt/heavy metals/oils etc) mixed into the water as it flows over ground will then contaminate the environment it goes into.

How do I complete an EMP?

We have created an EMP template to help you through the process. Each section steps you through what you need to include. This may range from detailing what you do at your site to looking at potential stormwater contamination sources and how these are or could be controlled. The complexity of your EMP and the work involved with creating one will depend on the complexity of your operation. It’s likely that you will already have systems and processes in place that contribute to reducing stormwater contaminants and an EMP is a way of collating all of that information and highlighting areas of improvement.

You can download an EMP template below or you can email environmental.solutions@napier.govt.nz if you would like a hard copy.

Alternatively, you may wish to engage an Environmental or Engineering Consultant to complete an EMP for you. If you need any further information feel free to contact us to discuss.

DOWNLOAD EMP TEMPLATE