Waitaki First has issued a challenge to the Government to "walk the talk" and get involved in the resource consents process to establish 16 new dairy farms with up to 17,850 cows at Omarama and Ohau in the upper Waitaki Valley.
Both Prime Minister John Key and Minister of Agriculture David Carter have expressed concern about the dairy farms, especially about housing the cows in cubicle stables full-time for eight months, and 12 hours a day for four months, to protect them from the harsh climate in the area.
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith said yesterday he had requested information from the Ministry for the Environment on the issue, which he needed before looking at what might be done.
Waitaki First chairwoman Helen Brookes wants the Government to go further and, at the very least, lodge a submission with Environment Canterbury (ECan) opposing granting resource consents for the dairy developments.
Under the Resource Management Act, the Government has several options open to it.
It can call in the consent applications if it considers them of "national importance" and refer them to a board of inquiry or the Environment Court for a decision.
At the other end of the scale, it can lodge a "whole of Government" submission or have a government department make a submission on the applications.
Submissions on the applications by Five Rivers Ltd and Southdown Holdings Ltd for resource consents to store and discharge dairy effluent close with ECan on December 18.
Submissions on the Williamson Holdings Ltd applications close on January 15.
Dr Brookes yesterday welcomed the comments by Mr Key and Mr Carter, particularly their opposition to the cubicle-style dairy farming.
While congratulating them on their stand, Dr Brookes said: "Hey, Government needs to walk the talk".
It was one thing to say publicly through the media it did not support "factory farming", but it also needed to make a submission.
The ECan panel would consider only the evidence placed before it and could disregard what was reported in newspapers.
"There has to be a formal submission from the Government. It would not be creating a precedent - the Government has made those submissions before," Dr Brookes said.
Waitaki First intended to lodge its own submission opposing the developments.
Its main concern was the effect on water quality of streams, lakes and rivers in the area.
It was also worried about the effect on aquifers and the downstream effects, particularly on the lower Waitaki River.
