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Thursday, November 10, 2011

The fruit of our labours

New farm rules a step closer

Farming in Southland could be under new rules before Christmas after the regional council passed a draft policy change yesterday.
The Environment Southland draft policy changes will have an impact on new dairy farms, associated dairy support grazing, and their related activities, which will be classified as a discretionary activity that requires resource consent conditions be complied with before it is carried out.
Any of the land uses and activities will also have to have a minor or less than minor effect on the environment to meet the requirements under the draft.
The policy rules will come into effect when they are notified on December 17, with submissions closing on March 31 next year.
Chairman Ali Timms said the Council acknowledged the new rules would be challenging for some in the farming community but it was important to note that the changes were in draft form only. Staff had been working on the proposed changes for some time.
While the rules were likely to come into effect before Christmas, Ms Timms said there will be ongoing consultation with the farming community.
Chief executive Ciaran Keogh said making it a discretionary activity allows for future development but in an environmentally sustainable manner.
- The Southland Times

3 comments:

Shane Pleasance said...

Save us all the debate, time and money and go straight to the banning!

robertguyton said...

You must hate it how driving past schools at 200kmph is banned, Shane!
Liberty dies, right there.

Shane Pleasance said...

Ignorance of the concepts of personal freedom and responsibility are at least more excusable than willful disregard. The former is intellectual sloth. The latter is morally reprehensible.