Clock ticks as stream targets loom

15 October 2009

The clock is ticking for Taranaki dairy farmers as they work to meet regional targets under the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord.

Farmers on the ring plain won praise today for their actions so far to protect and enhance stream quality - but were told they need to markedly increase the fencing and planting of streambanks if targets set for 2015 are to be met.

The assessment comes in the annual report of Taranaki's Regional Action Plan under the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord. The plan, drawn up five years ago by Taranaki dairy farming leaders, Fonterra, Federated Farmers and the Taranaki Regional Council, covers riparian (streambank) fencing and planting, stream crossings, effluent discharges, nutrient budgets to optimise fertilizer use, and the protection of significant wetlands.

The scorecard for 2008/2009 includes:

• 98% of regular stream crossing points have adequate bridges or culverts.

• 100% of Taranaki dairy farms have resource consents governing their effluent discharges. The compliance rate in 2008/2009 was 96% -- that is, 4% of farm systems needed reinspection because they were non-compliant on the first inspection. Most of the non-compliance was minor and quickly rectified.

• 99.5% of Fonterra's Taranaki suppliers have a nutrient budget.

• 82% of regionally significant wetlands are fenced.

• 66% of streambank is protected by fencing.

• 56% of streambank is protected by planting and vegetation.

"The 2015 target for both streambank fencing and streambank planting is 90%, so there is still a lot of work to do," says the Council's Chairman, David MacLeod. "Of the existing fencing and vegetation, only 8% or 9% is new work and the rest existed pre-Accord."

Mr MacLeod says the rate of riparian protection work needs to lift substantially, although he adds that the amount of new work still equates to fencing and planting a strip from New Plymouth to Auckland, and farmers deserve recognition for that.

He says they also deserve credit for their investment in bridges and culverts at stream crossing points and for their generally responsible attitude to effluent treatment and disposal.

Mr MacLeod says there is increasing realisation that environmental responsibility is a core component of farming and of future-proofing farm businesses.

"The riparian protection programme is large and ambitious. The ultimate aim is to have fences and vegetation on most of the 17,500 km of streambank on the ring plain - that's greater than the length of the New Zealand coastline.

"However, it's achievable. And the Council is doing everything it can to help farmers meet the target."

Council support includes:

• Free individual riparian management plans for land owners. These are drawn up by Council staff, using GIS technology after walking the streambanks and talking to the farmer. More than 90% of the region's dairy farms now have such plans.

• Organising an annual meeting of stakeholders to monitor progress and identify how improvements can be made.

• The supply of riparian plants at wholesale bulk-purchase rates.

• The co-ordination of contractors to carry out pre-planting, planting and post-planting maintenance work, if farmers do not want to do this themselves.

• Free ongoing advice as riparian plans are implemented.

• An annual prize draw for those making early plant orders.

Farmers wanting more information can call the Council on 0800 736 222 and ask to talk to a Land Management Officer.

ENDS

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