Compliance rated important
A pilot survey of Southland’s dairy farmers showed 90 per cent of respondents considered environmental compliance was important to the region, and 80 per cent considered it was important to the industry.
However, an Environmental Compliance Division Report, which was tabled at a Regulatory Committee meeting last Wednesday, says 11 per cent of respondents believed the council’s approach was unfair or unreasonable.
The report says that during the 2019/20 year the regional council issued 35 warnings, 29 abatement notices, 48 infringement notices and carried out 10 prosecutions.
The survey of dairy consent holders, which was conducted by Environment Southland’s compliance division, reinforced the feeling that dairy farmers see the value of environmental compliance, the council’s compliance manager, Simon Mapp, said.
‘‘The fact our dairy farmers are showing a strong desire to comply bodes well for the future and we will continue to build on this. We are seeing this reflected in our work with farmers and want to continue in this positive direction.’’
The 2019-20 Compliance Monitoring Report was presented to council this week, summarising the activities of Environment Southland’s compliance monitoring, enforcement and technical teams.
Mapp said the February flooding and the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the team’s ability to go onfarm to inspect properties, but to manage this they utilised more aerial inspections and completed 634 on-site and aerial dairy shed effluent discharge consent inspections.
‘‘Due to the restrictions in place for a good portion this year, we have not completed as many inspections as normal, but have prioritised our staff and focused our attention on the areas of highest priority.’’
Regulatory Committee chairman Neville Cook said there were some big challenges ahead with changes signalled by the Government and new regulations coming into play, which would put increasing pressure on compliance, monitoring and enforcement requirements over the next year.