RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 7, 2017
16 NEWS
Court decision a ‘dogs breakfast’ PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
AT LEAST 170 dairy farms and 30-plus commercial growing enterprises in the Horizons
Regional Council (HRC) area cannot get resource consents because of an Environment Court decision on the council’s One Plan several months ago. HRC chair Bruce
Gordon describes the situation as a ‘dog’s breakfast’ with little immediate hope of sorting out the issues. He says the courtimposed nitrogen limits are unattainable for many
Beat the seasons!
Loafing barns …
Cover your feedpad …
ite Built on-s 0 from $55 * per cow! 60,000 cows enjoy their free range clear-roofed Redpath shelter N Effective off-pasture management system N Superior feed utilisation N Control effluent within your standoff/feed areas N Clear-roof for superior floor condition and natural environment for the herd N Peace of mind farming N Cover your existing concrete pad and eliminate rainfall washing N Buy direct – we install nationwide
Free phone or email for a no obligation free quote
FREE PH 0508 733 728
www.redpath.co.nz, Email: sales@redpath.co.nz * GST & conditions apply
Horizon’s Regional Council chair Bruce Gordon.
farmers and growers and this is creating economic problems for the whole region. “Who’s going to invest in a region when that uncertainty exists?” Gordon says. The kerfuffle began when Fish and Game (F&G) and the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) took the HRC to court for what they saw as its failing to implement the One Plan that had earlier been agreed to. The court sided with F&G and EDS, so HRC must now do its best to do what the court has determined, but this is proving nigh impossible. Gordon says dairy farmers who want to intensify their farming
“Who’s going to invest in a region when that uncertainty exists?” or others who want to convert to dairying have virtually no show of getting a consent under the court-imposed rules. And this is not just a dairy problem, he says. Sooner or later sheep and beef farmers will also get caught, especially if they use irrigation and try to intensify. “Horticulture is in a lot of trouble and worse than dairy,” he told Rural News. “Nobody can come close to the new limits, and none of our growers in Levin — a food bowl of NZ — can meet the new limits.” The regional coun-
cil is in a ‘complete pickle’ and is hamstrung by the plan as it stands, Gordon says. One option is a ‘plan change’, but says this could take years to resolve because it requires all parties to agree on a solution and that is not happening now. The council has tried to get alongside F&G and EDS without much success. “EDS won’t talk to the council’s elected members, but they have spoken to our officials. As for F&G, we addressed its annual meeting in Palmerston North and invited
them to come and speak with our council but so far they have refused, which disappoints me terribly,” Gordon says. “If people sit around the table and eyeball each other they will come to a practical solution. But the plan we have now doesn’t have any practicality and we are struggling with it.” Farmers and growers will meanwhile keep producing while the regional council works on a solution. The council has made clear at public meetings that it is not shutting anybody down. Gordon says farmers must farm tightly and do all they can to mitigate the known problems on their farms. Failure to do so could see them taken to court.
Serious about fencing! ASK for Strainrite by name SPECIALIST manufacturers of high quality fencing tools and equipment See our product range www.strainrite.co.nz
Quality
Tested
Proven