Friday, August 26, 2011
Waituna meeting ('huge step backwards')
Pip has this to say:
(Pretty sensible it is too)
12:37 am Aug 26 2011
This is such a complicated issue, but coming from both sides of the fence (a farmer and an environmental scientist) I think that we all need to step back and look at the bigger picture. Yes, for years both farmers and environmental organisations have been guilty of misusing the local resources and failing to recognise the impact that we are having. And now, as a result, we are faced with the need for an 'ambulance at the bottom of the hill' as R put it. And whether we like it or not, this ambulance is Environment Southland, as they have the expertise, resources and where needed, the enforcement to address the problems that we are all responsible of creating. Arguing and blaming each other achieves absolutely nothing but wastes time that could be spent on trying to solve issues we are facing as a region. In my opinion, having a farmers only meeting is a huge step backwards. The emphasis in the past has been placed on including all parties (Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ, Environment Southland and local farmers etc) in discussion. I can understand why the different parties involved are getting frustrated, but no single party can solve these issues without the support of the others. It is heart breaking that while we are arguing over who is to blame, this internationally recognised wetland, continues to suffer.
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9 comments:
Farmers eh? can't wait to see what they come up with :(
That is the most sensible post I have read on this issue.
I couldn't agree more that it will not be solved by a free for all. From a farmers perspective the green lobby could take a more positive attitude and at least try and understand where the farmer is coming from. Farmer 'bashing' leads to meetings like the one spoken of. As Pip says the nett result is the debate goes backwards, and the lagoon still suffers.
A person I met recently said to me, "when I encounter a problem I look for a solution. It is often not obvious what the solution is, but more often than not that is only because we are not trying hard enough to solve the issue - rather we are getting too involved with the problem".
We wait with bated breath Bio!
Fred. The 'green lobby' and their insufficiently positive attitude - care to expand on that?
I suspect you've got it wrong :-)
It appears to this ol' fella that ofttimes a green movement comment tends to look at the problem and castigate the alleged offenders with scant regard for another point of view. In another comment i talk about looking for solutions through reasoned debate - something I dont get a strong conviction that the green movement is very interested in - unless it is in full agreement with their belief; which IMHO, is flawed by narrow thought processing.
This is not of all things at all times, but on the issue of this post I believe the current situation reeks of inaccuracies and innuendo leading to polarized positions that do little to move the issue toward solution........ Well! you asked!!
"inaccuracies and innuendo leading to polarized positions"
Can you give me an example or two to wrangle with Fred?
I'd love to challenge your claim, believing it wrong.
A couple of innacuracies around the Waituna situation, an innuendo or two to get my teeth into. I know a bit about this issue, from the 'inside' so to speak.Plus, I had a very in-depth discussion with a dairy farmer from the catchment yesterday, when I was out in the area planting trees...
A generalisation as far as Waituna is concerned,Rg. I have already asked for a more definitive explanation from you in another thread, for as I told you, I am not conversant with the Waituna detail.
The comment is based on my own experience in other ares, and conflicts, that usually lead to meetings such as the one in the other thread.
Can you assure me that you have done everything in your power to get around the table with the offending farmers to find the common ground to move forward on?
Fred - the Regional Council, staff and councillors have been out on the ground with the farmers of the Waituna catchment for months (intensively) and years (with projects like Clean Streams and other land sustainability initiatives) they/we know each other well. I was amongst the farmer/land care groups/councillors who met for a
discussion when Russel Norman visited the lagoon. Our council spent a day on and around the lagoon recently and have had farmers come in to present their case/pleas to us and I've been talking with any farmer who wants to tell me what they think about it all. This morning I was in discussion with a sheep farmer with very strong views about the dairying in the Waituna catchment. We chewed on that fat for an hour and a half. There's a message on my answer phone from a woman who farms in the catchment, wanting me to call her about I-don't-yet-know-what. I've been at meetings with Nick Smith and iwi on Waituna and talk regularly with Fish and Game people about their view. As the chairman of a LandCare group myself, I've had a long association with the group that has involved itself with trying to improve water quality in that catchment.And of course I've sat on consent hearings for farmers wanting to expand their operations in the Waituna catchment so over all, I think I'm getting a fair idea of what's going down there. I've also spoken with DairyNZ reps and Fonterra people about their views. Who's left out ... I know what the Greens think, having had person to person talks with Metiria and Russel as well as Jeanette and the two Southern Green candidates. I've also had a long, intense and fruitful talk with Natty Eric Roy about Waituna, and Leslie Soper, Labour candidate for the electorate that Waituna sits in.
D'ya reckon I've got it covered yet?
That is what you have done, Rg. What have you achieved?
Me personally Fred?
Can't say really, it's a team effort all round. The lagoon is still imperiled. Lots of science has been 'done'. The 'players' are all on alert. Farming practices are under review, as are the rules affecting activity in the catchment. And much more. I'll link to the ongoing up-dates from Environment Southland (on their website for the self-helpers).
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