Submissions on Waikato Regional Council’s plan to lift river water quality close next week but there’s little chance for an extension.

Farmers are disappointed by the Waikato Regional Council’s (WRC) ‘delaying tactics’ around a judicial review by six organisations over plans for the Healthy River Plan Change.

THE WAIKATO Regional Council says its submission process over the Waikato River clean-up plan change ‘has not’ been affected by a judicial review lodged with the High Court.

Farmers involved in the recent Federated Farmers-led case study to test the on-farm implications of Healthy Rivers Wai Ora have urged Waikato landowners to get on board with the proposed plan change process.

About 100 farmers turned out to the first Waikato Regional Council open days in Otorohanga and Reporoa last week to discuss the Healthy Rivers/Wai Ora Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1.

A series of informative open days is due to start shortly on the proposed regional plan change aimed at boosting the health of the Waikato and Waipa rivers.

Farmers in Waikato face bills of up to $750,000 to comply with a proposed plan to improve fresh water quality.

Rod and Sandra McKinnon milk 365 cows through a 32-point rotary on 120ha (effective) at Oakstone, a few km southwest of Matamata.

New restrictions on land use intensification in the Waikato and Waipa catchments have taken effect immediately, under a new 80-year plan to improve water quality.

The Waikato Regional Council is welcoming a Federated Farmers-led joint project testing the implications of the Healthy Rivers/Wai Ora: Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 for the rural community.