New bylaw for moving stock
New rules are in place for moving livestock on or across roads in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
Revised conditions in the Stock on Roads Bylaw 2017 included farmers’ wearing high visibility clothing, maintaining control over their stock and minimising disruption to other road users.
They have to move stock at a suitable time during daylight and at non-peak traffic times, display temporary warning signs that could be seen from either direction and have pilot vehicles with flashing amber beacons ahead of and following stock.
The conditions were introduced on March 1.
Last year, Christchurch City Council reviewed the bylaw that sets the rules for stock on roads.
Head of transport Richard Osborne said the changes were designed to make sure the bylaws provisions were up to date with health and safety law changes and temporary traffic management requirements.
‘‘Primarily they’re designed to keep people and livestock safe and protect our roads from damage,’’ Osborne said.
The changes required farmers to apply to the council for an assessment before moving sheep or cattle on roads listed as restricted.
There were 72 roads on the list in Christchurch, 21 in Banks Peninsula and all roads in built-up areas were included.
‘‘Essentially we’ve tried to keep things as simple as possible by developing a list of restricted roads basically all roads in the urban city are and key tourist routes in the Banks Peninsula.
‘‘If you want to move stock on or across these roads or move dairy cattle, you need to call us first so we can check you have a good plan, ‘‘Osborne said.
An assessment was needed to move dairy cattle across any road unless the road was controlled by cattle stops.
The bylaw applied to roads, or parts of roads, under the control of the council.
It did not cover roads such as state highways, private roads, unformed roads such as paper roads and roads that are not maintained by the council.
The movement of stock along or across rural roads was a necessary part of farming activities, Osborne said.
Moving stock along or across roads had not been identified as a major or frequent traffic safety issue in the district.
However, farmers moving them were expected to take all reasonable steps to keep road users, themselves, workers and stock safe and take care not to damage the road surface.
Farmers had to ensure their boundary fences kept stock contained.
That was because escaped stock were the leading cause of stockrelated traffic accidents, Osborne said.
Victoria, James and George Howden, who farmed on the Banks Peninsula, said in a submission before the bylaw came into force, that they vigorously opposed having to obtain permission and possibly pay a fee to the council to carry out their farming operation.
They farm between three different properties and said they must have the ability to move stock between them.
‘‘We can decide at short notice that stock need to be moved.
‘‘It seems an illogical idea and who is going to give permission?
‘‘Are they experienced farmers who are aware of all good farming practices?’’
The trio said the changes were an ‘‘unworkable waste of council resources.
Primarily they're designed to keep people and livestock safe and protect our roads from damage. Richard Osborne