Farmers, landowners voice freshwater policy worries

Farmers across Nelson and Tasman have raised concerns about proposed freshwater management and local government’s ability to regulate and monitor the new standards.

About 350 farmers, environmentalists and landowners attended a national roadshow presentation at the Rutherford Hotel on Monday to discuss environment policy direction.

The Ministry for the Environment (MfE)-led meeting is part of a three-week public consultation process across the country as the ministry seeks feedback on a range of environmental policy proposals.

It included details of the Government’s policy on five topics – freshwater quality, urban development, highly productive land use, hazardous waste disposal, and waste minimisation.

More than 20 people put questions about the proposals to MfE and Ministry for Primary Industries staff, expressing frustration at the short consultation period during what was a busy time in the agriculture industry.

Maruia farmer Brian Dineen said he had driven for 21⁄2 hours to be at the meeting, during calving season, and the timing was a ‘‘disgrace’’.

‘‘You are trying to push this on us. The leaders are already in this room doing the hard work, but you give no recognition whatsoever for farmers,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve worked bloody hard to get where I am, and I won’t allow a Government like this to take it away from me, or my children, going forward.’’ His comments were met with cheering and applause.

Murchison semi-retired farmer Simon Blakemore said that while there was an environmental aspect to the proposal, he was suspicious about what he said was a calculated political approach.

‘‘At some stage, you are going to put your finger on the calendar and tell councils they have to enforce this – and you won’t be here to face the music.’’

MfE deputy secretary, strategy and stewardship Natasha Lewis said concerns about the meeting dates and submission time frames had been taken back to the ministers.

Last Friday, the ministry extended the consultation period for the proposed new freshwater rules by two weeks, after an appeal from Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean.

Submissions will now be accepted until October 31.

The recently released National Policy Statement on Freshwater featured heavily in the questions from the floor, with some questioning local councils’ ability to monitor and regulate the new standards.

Earlier this month the ministry announced proposed freshwater rules which would impose stricter standards to improve New Zealand’s waterways, cracking down on farming practices and increasing regulation.

Environmental lawyer Sally Gepp said many of the proposed changes had been a long time coming, and addressed critical water quality issues, but she questioned why hydro power schemes were exempt from the minimum flows.

Outdoors Party founder David Haynes asked if the new freshwater standards would test for contaminants other than nitrogen and sediment, such as glyphosate and heavy metals.

An MPI spokeswoman said the attributes recommended were the minimum standard, and local councils would have the ability to include other attributes in their monitoring.

A Golden Bay farmer said she was highly supportive of the freshwater policy statement, which ‘‘filled a massive gap’’, but was concerned that there was no accountability for the councils expected to implement it.

Lewis said the compliance and monitoring and ongoing enforcement of the proposal changes would be discussed with councils as the roadshow travelled around the country.

‘‘At some stage, you are going to . . . tell councils they have to enforce this – and you won’t be here to face the music.’’

Simon Blakemore, Murchison semi-retired farmer