MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Farmers help protect thousands
As the winter weather sinks in Horizons Regional Council is reminding the rural community to keep grazing stock off stop banks.

Horizons are urging not only farmers but also owners of lifestyle blocks to keep tight control of their animals this winter.

The wetter soil combined with heavy animals, or animals that dig, can greatly weaken the stopbanks.

Horizons Area Engineer Derek McKee says land owners need to remember that stopbanks are not just a feed pad for animals.

“It’s commonsense to keep the cattle off the stopbanks at this time of year,” Mr McKee says. “Farmers and landowners know this and are cooperative but we just want to remind them that it’s that time of year again.”

It is a statutory offence to damage the stopbanks and landowners can then be held liable to pay for the damage.

Last year a landowner of a lifestyle block in Shannon had to pay more than $300 for damage made by a horse to the stopbanks on their property.

“The stopbanks not only protect properties worth billions of dollars from damage but they also ensure the safety of thousands of people.

“That’s why it is so important to reinforce the message of looking after our stopbanks to everyone in rural communities. “ Mr McKee says.

Stopbanks are a primary flood protection tool throughout the region. Horizons help care for almost 420km of stopbanks, which protect over 46,043 ha of land.
Grazing of stopbanks is allowed only by animals less than 18 months of age or when then soil is hard and there has been no prolonged rainfall.

Copies of the stopbank grazing guidelines pamphlet can be obtained from www.horizons.govt.nz

ENDS

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