Wednesday, 02 September 2020 10:53

New effluent rules looming under council’s plan change

Written by  Sudesh Kissun

New regulations around effluent storage and discharge loom for the Otago region.

Some farmers may need to upgrade their existing effluent storage to meet the new requirements; others will now require resource consent from Otago Regional Council to construct a new effluent pond.

All farmers will eventually need a discharge permit to be able to apply effluent to their land.

RDA Consulting senior farm environmental leader James Muwunganirwa says the changes form part of the council’s Proposed Plan Change 8, which was notified on July 6.

Muwunganirwa says Plan Change 8 will herald new rules around effluent storage and discharge.

For existing effluent storage systems, farmers would be required to prove their effluent storage system meets the permitted activity criteria. They will be asked to complete a Dairy Effluent Storage Calculation.

Muwunganirwa says they would be required to provide a storage calculation showing that they have sufficient storage for their farm system. The calculation is done using the Massey University Dairy Effluent Storage Calculator. 

Farmers would also be required to do a pond drop test.

Muwunganirwa says the test, to be carried out by suitably qualified person (SQP), measures changes in pond level over a period of time. 

“The test is able to detect even small amounts of leakage,” he says.

Visual inspections of effluent systems will also need to be done.

“The effluent storage is likely going to need to be visually inspected, while empty, by a SQP who will look for imperfections, cracks or holes in the structure, to ensure there are no obvious signs of leakage. 

“If the effluent storage system is not well designed and maintained and does not meet the requirements of a permitted activity, a farmer would be required to apply for resource consent.”

To help farmers prepare for the looming regulations, RDA Consulting has organised a field day in Milton on October 8.

“We want to increase farmer knowledge of the proposed Otago Regional Council Plan Change 8 Rules,” he says.

The field day will include pond drop testing, use of the effluent storage calculator and show farmers focus areas for visual inspections of effluent storage systems.

Speakers will include RDA project engineer Karen Ladbrook, environmental consultant Georgia Robinson and Muwunganirwa.

“RDA has the knowledge to help farmers prepare for change and the field day will be a practical demonstration of all the proposed requirements. We are up to date with all the new freshwater changes and keen to help farmers get ahead of the game,” he says.

“We urge all farmers in the region to attend the field day.”

The field day will be hosted by Scott Johnstone, Moneymore Dairies, Milton.

More like this

$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement

A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.

Fliegl offers effluent solutions

Founded in Germany as recently as 1977, today, the Fliegl Group employs more than 1100 workers, offering an expansive range of transport solutions, from their base in Bavaria.

Featured

Every vote will count - Alliance chair

An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.

John Deere technician's record hat trick

Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

National

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Machinery & Products

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…

Leader balers arrive in NZ

Officially launched at the National Fieldays event in June, the Leader in-line conventional PRO 1900 balers are imported and distributed…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter