Feedpads, wintering barns need pollution prevention focus
The ARC is becoming concerned at the increasing contamination of water that appears to be occurring from feedpads,
wintering barns and hardstands used by dairy farmers.
Nationwide over the past five years the dairy industry has seen a large increase in the development of feedpads or
wintering facilities on farms to improve operating efficiencies.
“We congratulate most farmers in the Auckland region for now being on top of their dairy washwater management through
the Regional Plan: Farm Dairy discharges. But contamination from wintering barns and feedpads have received little
attention and we’ve realised it can be a significant source of contamination,” said ARC Environmental Management
Committee chairman, Brian Smith.
Under the Resource Management Act 1991 discharges to both land and water are prohibited under section 15(1)(a) and (b).
Yet feedpads and wintering barns as a source of contamination are not specifically addressed under any of ARC’s regional
plans. There is a wide variation in their use and no guidelines appear to have been developed anywhere in the country to
ensure contamination does not occur.
The ARC has contacted other regional councils who are also concerned, and also Dexcel, Fonterra and other industry
advisers who advise that environmental management systems and good practice guidelines are not readily available.
“We have decided to take the initiative on this worrying issue. We are holding two meetings for local farmers and we
hope farmers will discuss with us the issues that they are facing in the Auckland region,” said Cr Smith.
“Then we are convening a meeting for regional councils, industry and farmers, where we hope that the industry will pick
up the ball and take the lead in developing a solution nationally,” said Cr Smith.
“At some times of the year, contamination from feedpads or wintering barns can be a bigger problem than dairy effluent.
That tends to be the time when land application of waste is most difficult because the ground is wet. The industry is
best placed to find sensible engineering solutions that will protect the environmental outcomes that we want,” said ARC
pollution control officer Glenys Kroon.
Meetings:
25 March – Farmer meeting – Karaka Hall, 11am-12.30pm (followed by barbecue lunch provided by the ARC) RSVP by 24 March
2003
27 March – Farmer meeting – Helensville War Memorial Hall, 2 Porter Crescent, Helensville, 11am-12.30pm (followed by
barbecue lunch provided by the ARC) RSVP by 26 March 2003
11 April – Regional Councils, Industry & Farmer meeting – Council Chambers, ARC, 21 Pitt Street, Auckland, 9.30am-3.30pm (including light lunch) RSVP by 8 April
2003
All RSVPs to Kiersten Connor on 09 366 2000 x 8167 or mailto: mailto:kiersten.connor@arc.govt.nz