Sign In / Register
The Landowners and Contractors Association (LCA) held two significant meetings recently.
A dairy shed meeting with Fonterra was held at Brian Mason’s farm in Tomarata, which focused on farm dairy inspection procedures, cost-effect outcomes and consistency.
It was an interactive forum discussing QCONZ’s role as the contracted company to carry out the farm inspections.
Fonterra regional manager Mike Borrie answered questions following his address.
The meeting was then updated on the environmental initiatives, which Fonterra is introducing.
LCA president Brian Mason said the LCA and Fonterra both see value in this type of on-farm shed meeting, providing an atmosphere where landholders and others feel free to participate.
“We will be following on with these across other rural sectors,” he said.
LCA also hosted a meeting at Wellsford RSA with Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team led by Dean Yee on April 30.
Yee gave a useful summary of council regulations and highlighted different responsibilities held with council, Auckland Transport and landowners.
Topics such as overland flow paths, drain cleaning regulations, erosion control and plantings along with river and estuary outlets were discussed.
“Some local instances were brought to his attention, one in particular the need for the Poutawa Estuary access to be able to remain open during summer months,” Mason said.
“This is the catchment of about 4000ha within the Pakiri Block at Tomarata, which is causing serious erosion along riverbanks and, ultimately, will flood farmland.”
LCA is seeking a five-year resource consent to enable mechanical clearing when needed, and the matter is being investigated by Healthy Waters.
“A strong view from the meeting was that one regulation doesn’t fit all and LCA advocates for better communication and cooperation with rural landowners when it comes to consenting and compliance.
The council team noted our concerns on a number of issues.”
The Landowners and Contractors Association, which represents rural landowners and contractors in Rodney and Kaipara districts, advocates for sensible consenting and compliance by local authorities and industry bodies. It will hold its annual general meeting at the Wellsford RSA on Thursday, May 29, starting at 7pm.
Anyone is welcome to attend and participation is encouraged.
