Thursday, Sept 26, 2019 Since Sept 27, 1879 Retail $2 Home delivered from $1.35 THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY NEIL BROWN LEEN BRAAM DONNA FAVEL TONY TODD 35.14% 28.26% 12.68% 23.91% As at 5pm yesterday www.guardianonline.co.nz RDA TURNS 45 Hui success P5 FULL STORY P4 PHOTO SUSAN SANDYS 240919-SS-0055 ‘Plan would send us back to 1970s’ BY LINDA CLARKE see Mid Canterbury return to a 1970s farmers in the district were already en- Longbeach [email protected] economy, with a few dairy farmers along gaged and farming to tough new rules Mid Canterbury farmers are still ask- the coast, dryland sheep farming on the around nitrate use put in place by Envi- ing for the Government to provide an plains and trees grown in the foothills. ronment Canterbury. looming economic assessment of the impact of Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury proposed new freshwater rules on the president David Clark said farming P24 district. would need to dramatically change CONTINUED P2 They say the current proposal would to meet proposed bottom lines, when LAST ONE!!!!!!!!!! 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It would stop members voiced more concern Environment Canterbury and the him taking part in discussions on Tuesday about being side- Ashburton District Council, ask- around the Hinds drains project lined from important discussions ing them to petition the Auditor or sharing his knowledge about around water, to a point the group General to consider reinstating the drains, because he farms in the might go into recess or lose the re- the exemptions, “to ensure the area affected. spect of its community. whole community has a voice in He said it also stopped other Conservation lobby group For- implementing plans to improve members from contributing, in- est and Bird went to the High the environment we all live in”. cluding members who were farm- Court this year to ask the Auditor “The committee has grave con- ers, commercial environmental General to withdraw exemptions cerns that the withdrawal of the managers and communications for zone committee members so OAG declaration will make zone consultants, as they all made the they could not take part in debate committees unworkable, lose the living in the areas of their expert or decisions in which they had a respect of their communities and knowledge. pecuniary advantage. go into recess, leaving Environ- Forest and Bird had previously The exemptions were similar ment Canterbury and the district written to the committee, saying to those that apply to Members councils with the very difficult they would be reviewing minutes of Parliament, who can take part task of implementing the Canter- of the meetings to ensure mem- in discussions and decisions as bury Water Management Strategy bers were compliant and that long as they declare any conflict without community support.” those who were not risked prose- of interests. The removal of ex- There are 10 water zone com- cution. emptions means zone commit- mittees in Canterbury, charged The Ashburton members said tee members are now treated like with implementing the goals of the withdrawal of exemptions elected members of the Ashbur- the strategy; they have been run- would impact on its work going ton District Council and other lo- ning for a decade and are a mix of forward. A compromise could cal authorities. community members. have been to allow members with The Ashburton Water Zone The Ashburton committee has a conflict of interest to take part in Committee voiced its disappoint- been told there is no merit ap- discussions, sharing the benefit of Ashburton Water Zone committee are concerned they are be- ment at the new situation again plying for new exemptions, be- their knowledge, but not to vote in ing sidelined from important discussions around water. yesterday, saying it would lose part cause they would almost certainly decisions. PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN ‘Plan would send us back to the ’70s’ From P1 Clark said Mid Canterbury land uses. This is expected to re- dramatic change. were misrepresenting the impact He said while Government’s would have a similar fate as Selwyn sult in a reduction in operating “Everyone in Mid Canterbury of the action plan. action plan contained costs for Te Waihora, which was the subject surplus returns from the catch- needs to understand what that “We are simply reading what is farmers, like fencing and audit- of an ECan report two years ago, ment in excess of 80 per cent from impact looks like.” written in the Government pro- ing of farm environment plans, it detailing what would need to hap- $348 million to $45 million per Clark said Government needed posal document, ” he said. did not detail how some rural dis- pen in order to achieve a similar annum.” to return to the district with eco- He said the anger and fear gen- tricts would be affected if farming environmental target. Clark said Government needed nomic modelling about how a wa- erated by the plan had only en- needed to become less intensive The report is a footnote refer- to do an assessment for Mid Can- ter quality bottom line of 1mg dis- sured lobby groups had retreated to meet the newly proposed rules. ence in the Essential Freshwater terbury, so the community could solved inorganic nitrogen per litre to their corners instead of working “Everyone who lives in Mid plan that is out for consultation be informed and properly provide would impact the lives of people collaboratively. Canterbury and is involved with until October 31. feedback on the current proposed who lived here. “It’s a tough ask to expect farm- the district’s economy needs to The report says widespread loss plan. “It is incumbent on the Gov- ers to achieve a nitrogen limit of understand what the impact will of equity and change in land own- He said farmers were already ernment to be upfront without 1mg/l when some farmers have be. ership is likely, and rural commu- engaged and committed to meet- community and give us sound water flowing into their farms “The plan, as proposed, will not nities would experience loss of ing the tough rules of the Canter- economic data of what a DIN of 1 from the DOC estate with a nitro- work and people need to under- services and depopulation. bury Land and Water Plan. will mean for our community. At gen load of 3mg/l.” stand the effect these proposals “The land use change analysis “The real concern is these pro- the moment all we can look at is Environment Minister David will have on the economic and projects a very substantial change posals appear to pull the mat out the Selwyn Waihora model and it Parker said, when he visited the social fabric in the district. People in land use in the catchment, with from under our feet and take a would be economically devastat- district on Friday, that he wanted need to think about what it was virtually no intensive land uses set of really tough targets that we ing there.” farmers, and others, to make sub- like in the 1970s, how many peo- and the catchment dominated by can work towards and achieve, Clark said anxiety in the farm- missions on the plan that would ple lived here, income levels and dryland sheep and beef grazing and replace it with targets we ing community was not being help inform its final shape and job prospects.” and by forestry or other extensive have no hope of meeting without drummed up by farmers who targets. OUT TOMORROW Check out Guardian Property in tomorrow’s Ashburton Guardian. www.facebook.com/ashguardian www.guardianonline.co.nz News www.guardianonline.co.nz Thursday, September 26, 2019 Ashburton Guardian 3 Ponds focus of homicide investigation BY JAIME PITT-MACKAY you can also give information [email protected] anonymously via Crimestoppers Specialist police divers have spent on 0800 555 111.” the day working in ponds of wa- Waldron was found in his bed ter and effluent as they continue by a colleague on Wednesday to search for evidence in relation morning last week with fatal inju- to the homicide of 29-year-old ries at around 9am. Rakaia man Tony Grant Waldron. Initial reports suggested he had “The police dive squad are suffered a gunshot wound, but searching bodies of water on a police later confirmed that was property on Gardiners Road as not the case, but have not been part of the ongoing investiga- able to confirm how Waldron suf- tion,” detective senior sergeant fered his injuries. Richard Quested said. Quested said they still believe “This includes searching an there is no threat to the public irrigation pond and an effluent and that this was an isolated in- pond.