Farmers wait for freshwater clarity
A Taranaki farmer says the Governments $700 million freshwater plans is a move in the right direction but more details are needed before there is overall acceptance of the proposals.
The Government last week announced a revised national freshwater policy outlining standards for managing nitrate limits, creating healthy rivers and streams to swim, fencing off stream banks and riparian planting.
South Taranaki farmer Jono Ardern said because the Taranaki environment was different from other regions there were still questions over nutrient levels being set to apply to the whole of New Zealand.
‘‘While the general feeling is that the government was listening to farmers, there is still some frustration that there hasn’t been enough talking to people on the ground,’’ he said.
Ardern, who milks 350 cows on a 130ha farm in South Taranaki, said Taranaki farmers had been working with the regional council for the past 30 years on improving water quality in the region through riparian planting schemes.
He had planted 5000 trees and shrubs on the farm and fenced off kilometres of waterways in the past six years.
‘‘No-one wants to deliberately damage the natural environment, and we all want things to improve, but we need collaboration not dictatorship.’’
Taranaki Federated Farmers president Mark Hopper said the Government had put a framework in place indicating the direction it wanted to go but the details would be in what regulations are passed.
‘‘The regulations are still to be written after different groups like Federated Farmers have sat down with the Government.’’
‘‘Farmers are happier but there is a general concern with where the policy is heading to and what will be regulated.’’
Hooper said the short consultation period before the plan was announced had meant the process had not been transparent and some groups had been ‘‘shut out of the room.’’
‘‘Now we have the opportunity with the details to get back in the room.’’
Some changes had been made from the Government’s original proposals which had taken into account Taranaki’s unique climate, he said.
‘‘There will still be a lot of cost involved for farmers as regional councils pass on costs of extra monitoring and consenting, and compliance will escalate.
‘‘What farmers want is certainty but there is still some underlying threats so it is still a wait and see process.’’