Thursday, 25 April 2019 09:55

Fonterra lends a hand in rival’s territory

Written by  Nigel Malthus
Fonterra’s emergency response team on the West Coast two weeks ago. Fonterra’s emergency response team on the West Coast two weeks ago.

The West Coast may be Westland Milk Products territory but that hasn’t prevented Fonterra from stepping in to help with the cleanup following the torrential rain and flooding of late March.

Working under the direction of Federated Farmers as the lead agency, a five-man Fonterra Emergency Response Team has been in the district since April 2, mainly replacing fencing flattened by the floods.

Fonterra’s National ERT Director, Kevin Lockley, said the team started in the Arahura Valley near Hokitika, where they completed new fencing for five farms.

“Mainly boundary fencing to keep the stock contained within the farm, and laneways to get their animals to either the dairy sheds or runoff or whatever they needed to do. 

“We don’t get too tied up with the internal fencing because that can get done at a later date,” he said.

When the Waiho River bridge at Franz Josef was replaced the team was able to move into the area just south of the river.

Lockley says there was “a lot of water” through the farms there because the flood blew out a stopbank.

“Again, establishing the main boundary fences along the road because they’ve basically got none left along that road any more. There’s pretty extensive damage along there.”

The effort was all about helping the community and helping farmers get back on their feet, he said.

Fonterra is thought to be the only dairy company in the world with its own Emergency Response Teams.

Fonterra had 98 ERT members in 11 teams across New Zealand, available both to respond to any emergency on site, or be sent to any national situation.

Lockley said that many had come from farming backgrounds or had a variety of life skills from previous employment. “We enhance that within our ERT teams and make sure they have upskilled and have the right training to do the tasks ahead of them.”

Members also had Urban SAR qualifications which meant they could work directly under Civil Defence direction. 

Fonterra teams were among the first on the ground for both the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes. They have also helped with repairs following the 2016 Edgecumbe flooding, a damaging wind storm in Taranaki, and Australian bushfires.

For the West Coast deployment, they chose members skilled at fencing.

Lockley, who is from Taranaki, is leading the team himself, and is joined by two from Clandeboye, near Timaru, and one each from Tirau and Waitoa in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty. 

Team members continue to be paid by Fonterra during the deployment, while the farmers provide material and equipment.

Lockley said there were pockets of damaged farms spread right along the coast. 

As this issue of Dairy News went to press, the team aimed to have a look at the Fox area and possibly as far south as Haast.

“We’ll see how we go this week because obviously we’ll have to give the guys a bit of a rest – they’ve pretty much worked most days, all day, so it’ll be time for break over Easter then we’ll re-evaluate what we do from there.

“The farming communities down here have been very grateful for the help. 

“We’ve got a good team working with Fed Farms and it’s ticking along really smoothly.”

More like this

Fonterra posts solid results

Fonterra has delivered a solid half-year result, thanks to higher margins and sales volumes across the co-op's diversified product and category mix.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter