The decision to call-in consent applications for
controversial dairy farm developments is a victory for the
Green Party and for every New Zealander who cares about water
quality and the "wonderful" landscape and biodiversity of the
Omarama and Ohau area, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman
says.
Dr Norman, who was vocal in his opposition to what he
described as "factory farming", said the companies who
applied for the consents - Southdown Holdings Ltd, Five
Rivers Ltd and Williamson Holdings Ltd - should abandon them
now.
"The huge public opposition shows that these proposals are a
step too far."
During a visit to the area last week, he spoke to many
people, including farmers, salmon farmers and tourism
operators and the level of opposition was "very, very
widespread".
The soils were incredibly thin and rocky and, with the
prospect of as much as 1.7 million litres of diluted effluent
being put on the land every day, there was "no question" it
would filter through into the groundwater and either end up
in the aquifers or lakes and rivers.
"We need a comprehensive plan for the future of this precious
area, rather than a series of ad hoc applications which will
see it slowly destroyed piece by piece," Dr Norman said.
He believed Environment Minister Nick Smith should develop a
national policy statement for the area because its
biodiversity, landscape and water quality were of national
significance.
He was disappointed the board of inquiry would not consider
the animal welfare concerns associated with the consents,
saying there clearly needed to be a more robust process for
dealing with animal welfare concerns arising from resource
consent applications.
He was still concerned that land-use consents associated with
the proposed farms were issued by the Waitaki District
Council without being publicly notified and he would continue
to pursue that issue.
Waitaki First chairwoman Helen Brookes said establishing a
board of inquiry was the "only way to go".
The issues were complex and going to arise in other parts of
New Zealand.
Decisions relating to the appropriateness of managing farm
animals indoors for considerable lengths of time needed to be
dealt with to set a benchmark for future applications, Dr
Brookes said.
North Otago Federated Farmers high country representative
Simon Williamson, who farms at Omarama, said it was a
positive move.
The applications were holding up other farmers in the
district that needed water for mixed farming to ensure
profitability.
Twizel resident Scott Aronsen, who was involved with
organising a public meeting in Twizel last month to debate
the issue, said it was good that politicians had taken notice
of what people were saying.
"We'll be seeking some legal advice to see where we should go
from here," he said.
Environment Canterbury chairman Alec Neill was pleased a
decision had been made by Dr Smith as there had been
"substantial pressure" on the regional council from other
political organisations to demand the applications be
called-in.
The minister's decision would hopefully resolve concerns
raised by political organisations in New Zealand and
overseas.
ECan had been working with Dr Smith over the past two weeks
looking at the legal aspects of a call-in and the
requirements of the Resource Management Act in relation to
animal welfare issues.
ECan was not taking a negative view of Dr Smith's call-in of
the consents.
The minister had made it clear in interviews with media that
he had been working closely with ECan and there was no
criticism of the way the regional council had handled the
applications, Mr Neill said.
- sally.rae@odt.co.nz
