Farmers engage in rivers plan

It was 20 years ago when Cambridge drystock farmer Graham Pinnell was made aware of the water quality issues in the Waikato River and how streams on his farm were contributing to that.

‘‘Taking preventative measures felt like the right thing to do,’’ he said.

Since then he’s undertaken riparian fencing and native bush retirement and planting on his Whitehall property.

‘‘It has allowed me to better manage my pasture, minimise stream bank damage and the bush remnants look better and are nicer to walk through. I really want to strike a balance between environmental values and economic outcomes for the farm.’’

He has followed the development of Healthy Rivers/Wai Ora: Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 and is urging people to step-up and make a submission on the proposed plan. Submissions close at 5pm, March 8.

‘‘We all want better water quality, but we have to keep in mind what’s realistic within certain timeframes.’’

He believes parts of what’s being proposed gets in the way of realistic solutions particularly in relation to the nitrogen reference point.

‘‘Farmers who have tried to do the right thing in the past will be penalised for having a low nitrogen reference point. I think it would be great if instead there was an obligation within the Farm Environment Plans to include good management practices for nitrogen leaching.’’

He hopes council and industry can work together on defining performance criteria and how high the hurdles for landowners will be.

‘‘My message to other farmers is be engaged and take an interest in this proposed plan change, because it will have huge implications for most of us. We all need to step up and make a submission so the hearings panel know how to strike the right balance for the future.’’

Go to www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/ healthyrivers to fill out and editable submission form and have your say.