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Nitrogen targets ‘unachievable’ By Heather Chalmers
heather.c@theguardian.co.nz
Fast women MOTORING
Intensive agricultural districts like Mid Canterbury will be required to reduce their nitrogen run-off by up to 80 per cent under Government proposals released yesterday to improve freshwater quality. Federated Farmers’ environment and water spokesman and Methven farmer Chris Allen said the proposal’s longterm targets for nitrogen reduction were
effectively unachievable in regions like Mid Canterbury and may force the end of pastoral farming to meet unnecessarily stringent targets. “It becomes very hard to continue economically farming animals or growing vegetables under a regime like this.” The Government’s Action Plan for Healthy Waterways aims to improve water quality for rivers, lakes and wetlands within five years and restore them within a generation.
The proposals include a mandate for councils to have a freshwater plan in place by 2025 and to better manage storm and wastewater systems. Farmers and growers will be required to have a plan to manage risks to freshwater by 2025.
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