5. Allocation of Public Resources Volume One and within each season, depending on the amount of rainfall. This policy establishes the basis for which irrigation water will be allocated. Allocating on a “nine years in ten” basis fully meets irrigation requirements on the property nine years out of ten and meets a large part of requirements in the very driest years. This standard recognises that it is difficult to provide for absolute reliability given the potential for extreme fluctuations in climate, but nonetheless seeks to provide a high degree of reliability. This reflects the value of the crop/pasture to the grower. It also reflects the fact that the higher the reliability standard is set, the smaller the total area of land that can be irrigated within the allocation limits set for the resource. The “nine in ten” reliability standard is a balance between the value of irrigation to individual growers and its value to Marlborough collectively. [R] Policy 5.3.8 – Approve water permit applications to continue taking and using surface water when: (a) a specific minimum flow and allocation limit for the source Freshwater Management Unit is established in the Marlborough Environment Plan; (a) the Freshwater Management Unit is not over-allocated in terms of the limits set in the Marlborough Environment Plan; (b) there is to be no change to the intended use of water, or if there is a change in use, this results in a decrease in the rate of take of water; and (c) the application is made at least three months prior to the expiry of the existing water permit. The policy provides criteria for determining water permit applications to continue taking water from the same water resource. If the circumstances set out in (a) to (d) apply, then the existing take and use of water should be granted. Depending on how other policies in the MEP apply to the take, it may be granted with different conditions. [R] Policy 5.3.9 – Express any allocation of water for irrigation purposes on the following basis: Take of surface Take of Use of water , Use of water – water groundwater except for the Brancott Brancott Freshwater Freshwater Management Management Unit, Unit, Benmorven Benmorven Freshwater Freshwater Management Management Unit Unit or Omaka or Omaka Aquifer Aquifer Freshwater Freshwater Management Unit. Management Unit Quantity m 3 m 3 m 3 m 3 Period 24 hours Annual Monthly; and Annual Annual Method of The maximum daily The maximum The maximum volume The maximum determination rate of take shall rate of take of irrigation water use volume of irrigation not exceed the daily (m/year) in a 3 in a calendar month water use in a July- volume that fully July-June year shall be the monthly June year shall be meets irrigation shall not exceed volume that fully meets the volume that demand on 90% of the volume that irrigation demand in fully meets 5 – 14