Farmers at risk: LCG

Grant Porter
Grant Porter
Imposing a minimum flow of 900litres per second for the Lindis River would mean some farmers would be forced off their land.

That view was expressed by farm consultant acting for the Lindis Catchment Group (LCG) Grant Porter in written evidence to the Environment Court appeal hearing.

And, even with the 550litres per second minimum flow level sought by the LCG, some farms would struggle, he said.

''Farms that are already carrying significant debt or have significantly less than the modelled capacity to finish stock under spray irrigation, will struggle to remain viable under the 550litres per second minimum flow plus galleries scenario.''

The galleries scenario is a LCG proposal to replace water races with bores alongside the river.

''Any higher minimum flow [than 550litres per second] would make the galleries, with their high development costs, non-viable,'' Mr Porter said.

The Otago Fish & Game Council wants the court to uphold the 900litres per second minimum flow set by the Otago Regional Council (ORC).

Mr Porter said his analysis showed that would result in the present farm systems in the Lindis becoming uneconomic and ''will cause some farmers to have to exit their farms.''

Comments

Perhaps as a Farm Consultant Grant should be telling his clients to practice sustainable farming practices. Obviously, the farming that is being undertaken can only happen if it is supported by irrigation - ie it is not sustainable - heard of climate change. The amount of draw-off from this proposed activity will ruin the Lindis for the greed of a few. The river flow has already been compromised lets not destroy it and all the species that live in it.

 

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