Action Still Needed By Some Marlborough Dairy

The latest report on dairy shed effluent and stream crossings shows the Marlborough dairy industry must lift its game to meet the standards being achieved by the industry in other parts of the country.

Farms are reviewed annually to see whether the conditions of any resource consent relating to the property and all Plan Rules within the Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan are being met.

In the past, reporting rates of dairy effluent compliance have varied dramatically around New Zealand. An industry-driven move towards national consistency resulted in Regional Councils reviewing dairy effluent compliance reporting. In 2009/10, the Marlborough District Council changed the way its annual dairy effluent survey was undertaken to come into line with the national guidelines.

In that survey, urgent action was identified as necessary on 10 of the 61 Marlborough dairy farms including some Sounds properties where, in the past, milking sheds and effluent storage ponds had been built closer to waterways than the current rules allow. Action was also required on 103 stream crossings, a key issue of concern for the Rai, Pelorus and Kaituna Rivers and at Linkwater.

The latest audit highlights the fact that all stream crossings currently designated as high priority must be eliminated by the end of the 2012 season. The audit also shows some Marlborough farms still lack contingency measures to deal with the effects of a major flood or storm regarding storage and disposing of effluent.

“There was still significant non-compliance in Marlborough at the end of last season, although we understand that many of the issues have since been addressed,” said Councillor Peter Jerram, Chair of the Council’s Environment Committee.

Federated Farmers has recently rung around the farmers whose properties needed further work and the majority of them have made genuine efforts to meet the standards, said Marlborough Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Sharon Parkes.

However she said some farmers have yet to give the necessary attention to improving their stream crossings and culverts even though it was made very clear last year that the work was necessary.

Councillor Jerram said while there had been some complications for farmers with effluent disposal, with a wetter than average season underlining the inadequacy of storage ponds on some properties, the lack of progress was a matter of some concern.

The next dairy audit is already underway and the District Council’s new compliance officer has begun making contact with dairy farmers to ascertain if there is compliance and to address any outstanding issues.

In the past, the Council has taken a collaborative rather than punitive approach, agreeing to work with the local dairy industry to encourage farmers to raise environmental standards.

This approach will continue for those farmers who show a willingness to work with Council to overcome the areas of concern on their farms, said Mr Jerram.

“I congratulate those dairy farmers who have taken the necessary steps but I also want to underline to the others that there are standards that will have to be met. It’s acknowledged that in some cases this will have financial cost but the quality of our water is of paramount importance,” he said.