Friday, March 29, 2024

Southland to establish water rules group

Avatar photo
An advisory group is to be established in Southland to advise on the implementation of the Government’s freshwater reforms.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Politicians and Government officials met with primary sector leaders and about 30 farmers in Invercargill this week to outline concerns about aspects of the freshwater reforms, especially new regulations on winter grazing.

Farmers discussed new rules which require consent, particularly intensive winter grazing, sowing dates and stock exclusion, and urged the ministers to push ahead with audited farm environment plans, which does not yet form part of the national legislation.

The Government has said farm environment plans will replace the need for consent for activities such as winter grazing.

The proposed local advisory group will be facilitated by Environment Southland to provide advice into the national implementation group being established by Environment Minister David Parker.

Environment Southland chair Nicol Horrell described the meetings as constructive.

“The farmers presented a number of areas where they have concerns and highlighted a number of possible solutions,” he said in a statement.

The meeting was initiated by farmers and also attended by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and Federated Farmers.

Horrell says the ministers acknowledged Southland farmers have made changes to their wintering practices.

“The ministers acknowledged the progress we’ve already made here in Southland with farm plans, intensive winter grazing, our proposed Water and Land Plan and the extensive engagement we’ve done for the plan and more recently to gather community values,” he said.

“Everyone wants to ensure water quality is improved – including the 35 farming leaders who attended the meeting.

“They are an integral part of the change that’s needed to improve our environment and working together to get practical, Southland solutions to some of our challenges is something we’ve always done well down here.”

Southland farmer Tony Cleland described the meeting as constructive.

“It was a general discussion which was positive. People were listening and suggestions were being put forward and people were being listened to,” he said.

He says the advisory group could be a forum to make freshwater policies workable for southern farmers, and that the solution suggested “could be a way forward”.

Total
0
Shares
People are also reading