Rivers plan to be aired for farmers

The plan change – likely to come into force next year – will set policies and rules for water quality, and look at ways to better manage nutrients and sediment losses. This will affect all dairy farmers in the Waikato and Waipa catchments. 

The chair of the Waikato Farmer Engagement Group, Angela Fullerton, says the meetings are aimed at precluding ‘surprises’ for farmers, and at helping them onto the ‘front foot’ of any changes. 

“It’s imperative that farmers get up to speed with environmental issues that will affect the way they farm. The seven meetings will allow farmers to engage in the process and ensure their voices are heard. 

“We will present a lot of new information. Farmers may express their concerns and get their questions answered. There’s no point in complaining later once the rules are in and you don’t like them….”

The meetings will be led by representatives of the Waikato Farmer Engagement Group, set up by DairyNZ to help farmers get involved with the Healthy Rivers process. It aims to get farmers’ views heard and the impacts of proposals understood.

Farmer leaders and DairyNZ staff will speak about the state of freshwater in the catchments and how water quality will be measured and monitored. The council will say how it is proposing to divide catchments into five freshwater management units: upper Waikato (Huka Falls to above Karapiro), middle Waikato (Karapiro to Ngaruawahia), lower Waikato (Ngaruawahia to Port Waikato), Waipa River catchment and a category known as shallow lakes.

“The Government’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management requires every regional council to set water quality and quantity limits for every water body in their region by December 2025. The Healthy Rivers Plan Change will place controls on nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and bacteria and these controls will affect how farmers can farm,” says Fullerton.

“Once Waikato farmers have made their views clear to us as a farmer engagement group we will be passing those views on to the collaborative stakeholder group through our industry reps. One of the reps, George Moss, will attend the farmers’ meetings.”

 The regional council is expected to release its draft options for water policy in the region about October. The Healthy Rivers Plan for Change will be formally notified for public submissions in April 2016.

Farmer Meetings

• Reporoa, Broadlands Hall, May 5
• Te Awamutu, Te Awamutu Club, May 6
• Tokoroa, South Waikato Sports and Events Centre, May 7
• Cambridge, Don Rowlands Centre, May 13
• Otorohanga, Otorohanga Club, May 19

Meetings run from 11am to 2pm and lunch will be provided.