Stock access to water

Environment Canterbury today confirmed its stance relating to farmers facing particular challenges in their use of water for stock during the current dry period.

Resource Management Director Kim Drummond said that while it is crucial for farmers to have access to the water they need for stock, potential environmental impacts and the rules that mitigate them must also be acknowledged.

”Access to stockwater is top priority,” Mr Drummond said. “If access to the water stock need to drink is subject to resource consent conditions, Environment Canterbury will consider those conditions and the farmer’s circumstances with the present situation in mind.”

However, Environment Canterbury is unable to authorise intensively farmed stock getting direct access to natural waterways. “The rules are designed to safeguard and improve water quality for the future,” Kim Drummond said. “It’s not in anyone’s longer term interests to have stock in waterways because water quality will be compromised and we won’t hesitate to take action if this is required to protect the environment.

“Having said that, we are seeing farmers taking steps to get water on to their farms and we encourage these – as long as they’re within the rules or your consent. Examples are pumping and trucking water in.”

Farmers needing information or advice about the rules or their own situation should call Customer Services on 0800 324 636. For general information on river flows or irrigation restrictions, go to www.ecan.govt.nz and search on River Flow and Irrigation Restrictions.

“We’re doing everything we can to help farmers get access to stockwater,” Kim Drummond said. ”We don’t want livestock to suffer unnecessarily.”

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