At a third day of public submission hearings on changes to the Otago Regional Council Water Plan change 6A, involving nitrogen discharge limits to water, held in Oamaru, at least two farming businesses said regional council staff appeared not to understand the proposed plan during the pre-public submission meetings.
Jonathan Davis, submitting on behalf of Waitensea Ltd, said council staff had painted a scenario where farmers would have to risk crippling financial costs to convert border dyke gravity irrigation systems into spray systems.
Mr Davis said council staff in meetings with farmers had told them that the nitrogen levels depicted in the proposed plan would still have to be achieved, even though tests had shown that the figures were impossible to reach with border dyke irrigation.
"ORC staff said under the plan you will not have border dyke farms," Mr Davis said.
Former North Otago Irrigation Company chairman Jock Webster said ORC staff had given a similar impression to other farmers.
He had been to a meeting at which ORC staff had said the only way for farmers to meet the limits would be to de-stock, Mr Webster said.
"The answer they gave was even if you have to get rid of half your stock, then that's what you will have to do."
Mr Webster said despite claims from the hearing panel that farmers did not need to loose sleep over the final plan, farmers were finding it hard not to worry a great deal, because they did not know where they stood.
Hearing chairman Cr Duncan Butcher said he was aware that the plan, as it was notified, did not make clear how the proposed limits would be triggered, but noted that there seemed to be a misconception around North Otago that they already had been.
Katia Fraser, acting as counsel for three North Otago-based irrigation companies, said potential compliance conversion on the Waitaki Plains would cost $50 million, which would make 50% of those farms unbankable.
Ms Fraser said the uncertainty surrounding the plan needed to be addressed.
"It is submitted that ORC needs to conduct an extensive review of its plan change to ensure it is not uncertain."
DAY 13
Where: Oamaru
Panel: Councillors Duncan Butcher (chairman), David Shepherd and independent member Clive Geddes
Proposal: Changes to Otago's water regulations to prevent run-off in rural areas polluting the region's waterwaysS
ubmitters: Waihemo Water Catchment Society Inc, Belmont, Isa Holdings, Waitensea Ltd, MC Holland Farming Ltd, Robert Borst, Grant Ludemann, Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company, Waitaki Irrigators Collective Ltd, North Otago Irrigation Company
Quote of day: "I believe we need to measure water quality against farm management on demonstration farms to develop sustainable limits relevant for my area. I believe this will give the best long-term answers we all seek. I want good water quality and to continue fishing." - Jason Hayman
