Farmers hail changes to Resource Management Act
Changes to resource management laws announced last week will spare thousands of farmers from needing an unnecessary resource consent just to keep farming.
A Waikato farmer has been convicted and fined $25,050 for carrying out unlawful earthworks in a stream on his Te Awamutu property in May and June 2020.
The prosecution was taken by Waikato Regional Council under the Resource Management Act following a complaint from a member of the public and subsequent investigation.
The sentence was imposed in the Hamilton District Court by Judge Melinda Dickey on 29 November having heard that the defendant, Dennis Veen, used his excavator to dig up approximately 500 metres of stream bed, in the base of a gully system 600 metres upstream from the Waipā River.
When asked by the council for an explanation, Veen stated he was "cleaning our his drains".
The council case confirmed that the stream provided a natural habitat for a selection of native fish species and caused a significant discharge of sediment, a main contributor to contamination of the Waipā River.
In sentencing, Judge Dickey considered the defendant's lack of awareness of the rules protecting natural watercourses and commented that he "was highly careless to have not made any inquiry about the rules applying to such activities".
"This is a stark reminder to anyone who sits at the controls of an excavator, that there are very clear protections in place prohibiting the destruction of wetlands and river systems," says Council regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch.
There are clear guidelines and rules around earthworks activities to reduce any negative impacts of sediments and erosion. Information is available on the council website at waikatoregion.govt.nz/earthworks or by calling 0800 800 402.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.
Following recent storms in the region, the 69th edition of the Tour of Southland cycling event has been postponed.

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