Stay strong on One Plan – Greens tell Horizons

The Green Party is encouraging Manawatu-Wanganui’s Horizons Regional Council to show courage over its One Plan to address resource use in the region.

“There is widespread concern about the state of the waterways in the region, especially the Manawatu River,” says Green Party Environment Spokesperson Nandor Tanczos.

“It’s great to see Horizons taking a stand to clean it up.

“We know that intensive dairying is one of the biggest contributors to water contamination all over the country. With the boom payouts for dairy farmers, now is the time to put in place measures to reduce environmental impacts such as restricting water takes and reducing nitrogen leaching.

“Hill country farmers are hurting over current meat prices, but unless we address erosion in those areas the region will loose its greatest asset, its soil.

“In addition, climate change is predicted to mean more regular storms and floods. If you think recent floods were bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Erosion control is an absolutely urgent priority.

“There are better gains to be made by converting to organic production methods and actively building soil than by losing it through erosion because of an understandable but desperate attempt to maximise production,” Nandor says.