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PAGE Vol 17 No 47, November 26, 2018
Threat to rural life Neal Wallace
F
neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz
ARMING leader Chris Lewis fears rural communities could disappear as regional councils increase the number of previously permitted farming activities now requiring resource consent. New nitrogen limits in places like Lake Rotorua make livestock farming uneconomic and mean trees are the only land use option, Lewis, a Federated Farmers board member, says. Regional councils propose or require resource consent for cultivating some hill country, intensive winter grazing, converting land to dairying or increasing herd size. Farm environment plans and best practice management guidelines are increasingly becoming mandatory. And those requirements will only increase, Local Government NZ regional sector chairman Doug Leeder said. “That is the general direction of travel.” While councils such as Waikato, Bay of Plenty, ManawatuWanganui, Canterbury and Southland are leading the tougher regulations other regions that do not have the same water quality issues will follow.
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It’s not going to be an easy transition for some but a transition we’re all going to have to make. Doug Leeder Local Government NZ “I think it is going to be the norm rather than the exception and it is essentially being driven by water reform.” Councils and farming groups need to find ways to reduce the number of consents and so reduce charges and site inspections, he said. The increase in regulation is driven by the Government and community concerns water management has been too lax. Environment Minister David Parker has signalled changes to the Resource Management Act to help councils improve water quality management, which all points to changes in the way farms are managed, Leeder said. “It’s not going to be an easy transition for some but a transition we’re all going to have to make.” Lewis said Waikato Regional Council’s Healthy Rivers is on hold because of iwi-initiated court action with hearings likely
FULL REPORT: P8 BULL BEEF REPORT: P64 SUE and Stu Thomson were among farmers who put lambs up for a series of on-farm sales in Canterbury last week. They offered 5500 lambs at Manahune, Glenmark, in North Canterbury. It was damp start but that didn’t deter buyers and prices were up despite increased numbers on offer. to resume early next year but when it is implemented its good management practice provisions will force changes in farm management. It could curb land use change, limit stocking rates and nutrient losses and require all farmers to fence all waterways. Another contentious provision will restrict sheep and cattle grazing on slopes in areas with poor water quality without a grazing management environment plan, which farmers label as akin to requiring resource consent. Nearly half of Canterbury’s 8800 farmers will require land use consent to continue farming under new laws rolled out by Environment Canterbury to
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protect and improve water quality. ECan chief operating officer Nadeine Dommisse believes more councils will require consent for farming activities previously exempt though those activities will differ as councils tackle specific environmental issues. Environment Southland’s proposed Land and Water Plan, under appeal before the Environment Court, will require consent for activities including cultivation of some hill country, new or expanded dairy farms or intensive winter grazing if conditions cannot be met. Further regulation is likely given Parker’s intention to strengthen the National Policy Statement on Freshwater, Environment Southland policy, planning and
regulatory services director Vin Smith said. “It may mean further regulation is needed to go faster to improve water quality or further regulation and control to meet central Government’s requirement for the policy statement.” Councils are trying to manage activities that lead to adverse effects. “There is a raft of provisions that you can do as of right but if you cannot do it within those provisions you may need consent.” Lewis called for a more practical approach to regulation and environmental management, saying humans have an impact on
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