ENVIRONMENT FRESHWATER
Advisory group has come up with recommendations to make the regulations more practical to implement for farmers while not diminishing the protection they give to waterways.
Ministers get water regs advice
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ecommendations for changes to the proposed winter grazing rules have been presented to Government ministers in December from an advisory group aiming to improve the practicality of rules and to achieve better environmental outcomes. The Southland Advisory Group was formed after concern from farmers and sector organisations that a number of rules were impractical, challenging to meet and costly for councils to implement.
DairyNZ strategy and investment leader Dr David Burger said. “We are pleased to have worked with farmers and sector organisations to develop clear and practical recommendations for onfarm wintering actions which will lead to better outcomes for the environment and local communities.” Following a meeting with the Ministers in September, a group was formed and asked to look at the implementation of the intensive winter grazing rules within the
‘We are pleased to have worked with farmers and sector organisations to develop clear and practical recommendations for onfarm wintering actions which will lead to better outcomes for the environment and local communities.’ The rules are part of the Government’s National Environmental Standard for Freshwater. “While DairyNZ supports the intent of the Government’s regulations, which is to protect the environment, the rules need to be fair, reasonable and achievable,” 60
new National Environmental Standards for Freshwater. The group included several farmers, and staff from Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Fish and Game and Environment Southland, who have worked together on finding practical solutions
to some of the issues raised with implementing the regulations across the country. Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell is very Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell. pleased the group has worked so well together and has come up with a package of recommendations to make the regulations more practical to implement for farmers while not diminishing the protection they give to waterways. “The group has worked at pace and come up with some very practical suggestions. I am optimistic this report and recommendations will land well with Ministers and officials,” Horrell said. Regulations announced in August were focused on getting swift improvement in water quality. Keeping this goal as their key focus, the recommendations put to Minister for the Environment David Parker and the Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor this week aim to ensure this happens. In the report, the group notes that
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | January 2021
