Popular tourist spot Mullet Bay, basks in the benefits of the dairy boom. Human visitors to the unique site yesterday frolicked amongst the splattered cow shit and pock-marked soil, excitedly discussing the panache shown by the farmer in encouraging his cows to wander freely - no 'herd homes' for this devil-may-care guardian of the land!
Ebullient Environment Southland staff joined in the merry-making, driving all the way from Invercargill to see what all the excitement was about, taking photographs, writing in note-books (poetry?)
Perhaps they'll publish something for us all to enjoy.
I wonder who collects the milk from these sea-side-lovin' cows?
14 comments:
I cannot see any fences.
Who has title to this land?
Are the cows trespassing?
The farmer is just ensuring that none of the cow-pat's potency is diluted before it reaches the marine habitat. Unlike traditional methods, such as pooing very near to a river, these modern techniques are much more effective.
The fences were taken down by the farmer - you can theorise as to why, the title holders are known but I'll bite my lip (for now) and yes, I believe so.
An investigation is under way.
I will keep you informed.
Bad Bio!
Another example of the degradation of our environment and its all so bloody frustrating !!!! That farmer I told you about in the west plains is back misbehaving again leaving residue on the roads from his cows. When the police were called in after someone got into bother with the S..T, they did nothing but give the guy a telling of ..yeah right as the Tui add says!!
Pauline - do you have photos?
They're a powerful tool in the fight against sh*t.
yes anonymous the cows are trepassing- on our boundary as well as a public road not to mention the bay. i phoned winton police about cows on the public road last saturday and ended up speaking to chch and no action taken. yesterday the cow owners made a complaint to winton police about some hurricane posts put in by my husband to deter cows from further destroying the land on our boundary. it is pleasing to know that the police can respond in an emergency and a constable was despatched to mullet bay and a visit and telephone message left for us .Meanwhile it was established that hurricane posts all 8 of them were not breaking the law and the cows still roam at their owners whim.
signed slippery slope
slippery slope - I understand that plantings of native trees have been made in the area in order to improve the landscape and prevent erosion.
How did those plants fare with cows roaming freely like that?
Sorry I heard it second hand BUT I think I might know someone who might have them :)
That farmer is so lazy! what a lazy farmer, yes L A Z Y.
Oh so Lazy!, he is worse than a beneficiary!!
waits for nibbles...
Southland Regional Council were warned about the effect of dairying on water quality back in the early 1990's. Some twenty years later, it is obvious they have failed in their responsibilities. Can they been sued?
robert planting of native trees on the west facing eroding side is long overdue. the dispute over who owns mullet bay and the resulting cribs and of course a proper fence to keep the cows in has made everything uncertain and of major concern the security for the crib owner of Polyfilla Villa has tended to be a priority. SDC have been working to get a resolve with the landowner for over a year and assure us its likely to take a long time.
in the meantime to plant without adequate fencing and with leaseholder cows free to graze where they want it would be a waste of resource to plant but we will plant and make the area fabulous for everyone.
slippery slope
Jonesy - worth a try. They have, it must be said, woken up with a start in recent times and developed some real steel in their/our spines.
As a long-time thorn in the side of ES and active critic of the state of Southland's waterways, I can honestly say the staff there (scientists,managers etc.) are excellent and well aware of the problems. This new wave of councillors has, in my opinion, a different view of how things are to be managed and are very much less inclined to take the side of the major contributors to water pollution than they have been in the past. Some of course, are those very same 'past councillors' but from my observations, they too are 'reborn' and have been made acutely aware of the need for firm control of the environment. In saying all that, it has to be recognised that the influx of dairying to Southland has been intense - more so than anywhere else in the country. The Waituna lagoon is flagging just what results when several factors combine and it's not a comfortable situation at all. The team dedicated to halting that 'disaster' is the most capable, most focused that I have seen in many a year. If they could call all the shots, the lagoon would be safe. I wish I could say the same about industry.
This issue though Jonesy, is different. Non-compliance and flouting of regulations is something that has to be sheeted back to the farmer and his/her industry, in my opinion. The recent appalling statistics where 24 out of 54 dairy farms inspected in Southland were non-compliant is an issue for them to sort out. ES no doubt will apply the maximun pressure it can - that's my hope anyway. The Southland Times will no doubt keep us informed.
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