Hard line pledged on effluent rules

Dairy farmers are being warned the Otago Regional Council is taking a tougher stance this year on breaches of effluent compliance rules.

About 70 farmers attended a field day on the Taieri yesterday and were told by the council's land resources manager, Susie McKeague, compliance officers would add to its check list inspection of effluent draining from lanes and crossings into ditches.

She said inspections would occur without advance notice and start during calving, traditionally the busiest and most stressful time of year on dairy farms, and she urged farmers to look for "hot spots" or areas of their business where problems could occur.

"I'd suggest you go home and sort out any hot spots. We are going to be tough again this year."

Last month, 24 Otago farmers and farming companies were prosecuted by the Environment Court for breaching compliance rules. The council also issued up to 50 infringement notices.

Most were for allowing the ponding of effluent on paddocks or discharges into waterways, but this year effluent draining from lanes and crossings would also be inspected.

This meant ensuring cows did not congregate near crossings or where effluent could drain into ditches or waterways, and diverting any shed wash from draining down lanes and into ditches or waterways.

Farmers yesterday questioned how they could spread effluent during extreme weather events, how they could get information on the water-holding capacity of their soils, while there was some comment on how they were treated by compliance officers.

One said a compliance officer noted an accident in his effluent system which caused a breach, but continued to inspect the property for an hour before informing the farmer, who was subsequently fined.

Mrs McKeague said compliance officers had to be careful not to compromise their legal ability to issue an infringement notice, but she said officers would be instructed to be courteous and respectful, and she hoped farmers would be equally well behaved.

Dairy farmer and former regional councillor Colin Scurr said it was important compliance officers did not give an impression of seeking a prosecution rather than achieving a better environmental outcome.

Mrs McKeague noticed the level of ammonia nitrate in Otago's waterways, which was a direct measure of stock effluent getting in to waterways, was declining throughout most of the region, she said.