Water fight begins at hearing

The opening salvo in a battle over the region's water quality started yesterday when Horizons began hearing submissions on its proposed One Plan.

One Plan is a single resource consent, rather than the multitude of consents farmers may have at present.

The new proposal includes fertiliser run-off estimates for each farm in the catchments of poor water quality rivers.

There are four commissioners hearing One Plan submissions, including two who are independent of Horizons.

The Upper Manawatu, which has been called one of the worst polluted rivers in the Western world, would only get worse if farm fertiliser run-off was not curtailed by the proposed One Plan, Horizons group manager Greg Carlyon said.

Many farmers are concerned the One Plan would limit their ability to apply fertiliser and fear it could lead to a cut in cow numbers, making their farms uneconomic.

Federated Farmers and individual farmers will make their submissions to the independent councillors next year.

But Mr Carlyon said Horizons believed the One Plan balanced the expectations of the community for better water quality and the economic use of the land by farmers.

It was not Horizons' plan to put farmers out of business.

"I believe the proposed One Plan, with its strong science foundation, innovative policy and supporting tools has positioned the region well to achieve a balance between competing demand [for water] now and in the future," Mr Carlyon said.

The degradation of water quality in rivers was due in a large part to nutrient run-off from farms, especially intensive land use properties such as dairy farms, he said.

Horizons said about 80 to 90 per cent of nitrogen in the region's rivers could be put down to farm use, and it wants farmers to be compelled to reduce nutrients running in to waterways.

Horizons' lawyer John Maassen said to do nothing was not an option, otherwise water quality in the Manawatu-Wanganui region would get worse.

Dairy giant Fonterra, while yet to present its submission to the commissioners, wants to have a voluntary scheme for farmers, rather than the regulatory approach Horizons is proposing.

Fonterra represents most of the region's dairy farmers, as well as owning two processing plants which discharge to rivers in the region.

Horizons submissions continue for about 10 days, finishing towards the end of January.

It will be followed by 14 days of submissions which include information from power companies, farmers, Maori farming groups, local government as well as the Defence Force, environmental groups and individuals.

The hearings should be completed by next April.

- © Fairfax NZ News