Farmers and growers were encouraged to make submissions on Environment Canterbury's proposed plan change 7 for the Orari Temuka Opihi Pareora (OTOP) zone at a meeting in Pleasant Point recently.
''It's important that the panel knows what impact it will have on you and your farms,'' Charlotte Wright, of DairyNZ, told a crowd of about 60 who attended the information session.
''They may not realise the range of impact on you guys in terms of your viability; the effects on the wider community; your ability to employ people and you need to say what you want to see change.''
Ms Wright said there were three high nitrogen concentrations areas in the region: Fairlie, Levels Plan and Rangitata Orton.
Under plan change 7 there would be a requirement to meet baseline good management practice by July 2020. In high N risk areas there would be further requirements for a 10% reduction by 2030, then an additional 10% by 2035 for Levels Plain and Rangitata.
Other speakers were Julia Crossman, of Opuha Water Ltd, Lionel Hulme (Federated Farmers), Eva Harris (Irrigo) and Rachel McClung (Horticulture NZ).
Submissions close on September 13. After this a public hearing before an independent panel will be held.
Plan Change 7 presentation and drop-in sessions (light refreshments provided):
- Temuka: Tuesday September 3, 2-4 pm, Alpine Energy Community Centre
- Geraldine: Tuesday September 3, 7-9 pm, Waihi Lodge
- Fairlie: Friday September 6, 10.30am -12.30pm, Mackenzie Community Centre
- Timaru: Friday September 6, 2-4 pm, Caroline Bay Community Lounge
Proposals
Among proposals in plan change 7 are:
- Establishing high nitrogen concentration areas in the Rangitata Orton, Fairlie Basin and Levels Plains areas.
- Requiring all dairy farms to meet baseline Good Management Practice (bGMP) by 2020. In the Rangitata Orton, Fairlie Basin and Levels Plains areas nitrogen loss will have to be cut by 10% (for dairying) and 5% (other farming activities) beyond bGMP by 2030. In Rangitata-Orton and Levels Plains it will be by 20% beyond bGMP by 2035
- New minimum flows/changes to allocation limits.
- Broader stock exclusion requirements — includes springs, open drains and watercourses that discharge into a lake, river or wetland. Prohibits farmed cattle, deer or pigs from disturbing or using the bed of lakes, rivers or using the bed and banks of spring-fed plains rivers.
- Prioritising scheme water over individual takes.
-By Chris Tobin
