Positive response to freshwater farm plan reforms
There's been a positive response to the Government's latest move to make freshwater farm plans more practical and affordable.
The changes are a positive start that will give farmers a lot of confidence for the future. The changes are largely in line with what the industry has been advocating for over the past six years.
The changes should cut the cost and complexity out of the system and reduce the number of farms required to have a plan and to take a risk-based approach to certification. The new plans should also manage environmental impacts, but without unnecessary red tape, and they won’t be required for small blocks.
Federated Farmers Colin Hurst says farm plans have huge potential to cut unnecessary red tape, compliance costs, and consenting requirements for farmers. He says a tailored farm planning system that takes a risk-based approach will provide strong environmental protections without the over-the-top bureaucracy we’ve seen in recent years.
“For a farmer, this has the potential to be a game changer, replacing the need for expensive and uncertain resource consents or constantly changing council rules,” he says.
It’s a feather in the Government’s cap, and Hurst says the Government are making all the right noises. However, farmers should still keep a close eye on the process and lobby groups should keep engaging with them to make sure the system works in practice.
On the Government side, Andrew Hoggard says officials are working with industry, sector groups, and councils to finalise improvements through updated regulations, while Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the Government is recognising existing industry programmes that achieve equivalent environmental outcomes and that farmers shouldn’t have to complete multiple plans.
