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A powerful player has stepped in on a bid to set up indoor dairy
farming in South Island high country.
The government has ordered a board of inquiry to look into plans
for three large cubicle farms housing thousands of cows in the
Mackenzie Basin.
The plans caused uproar, enough for the government to intervene.
"With the number of cows being proposed, this is the equivalent of putting a city of 250,000 in a pretty fragile environment," says Conservation Minister Nick Smith.
Eighteen-thousand cows would be kept indoors for most of the year. Critics claim it would be bad for the environment, bad for the animals and bad for New Zealand's image.
The government is now calling in the consents.
Read Questions and Answers
about Smith's decision to call in the
consents.
"I think this is the most robust way in which to deal with a pretty
contentious proposal," Smith says.
Environment Canterbury is already hearing water consents and they will continue with that process.
But a government appointed board of inquiry will now decide if 1.7 million litres of effluent a day will have a detrimental effect on the Mackenzie Basin.
"If the board cannot be satisfied that water quality can be maintained with that sort of effluent extra discharge then it can't go ahead," says Smith.
The move is welcomed by the Green Party.
"(It's a) great victory for Greens and the Green movement more
broadly and everyone who cares about the land and Mackenzie
Country," says Green Party co-leader Russel Norman.
Locals opposed to the plan are also pleased.
"We're pretty happy about it that the National Party is taking notice of what people are saying. But by no means is this finished yet," says Scott Aronsen.
"We want to see this thing dead and buried completely."
There is already conventional dairy farming in the Mackenzie and tourists are noticing the difference.
"Five years ago there was nothing. Now there's lots of green grass with the dairy farming and they (tourists) think it's unnatural," says Sandra Wilson, a tour driver.
Smith says if the project is going to damage New Zealand's clean green brand then it should not go ahead.
The new hearing process could cost the applicants around $300,000 with the extra money and time involved. The Greens hope the applicants will pull out.
"The call-in may put the applicants off when they realise the level of national concern," says Norman.
The board of inquiry will be chaired by Environment Court Judge Jane Borthwick and includes members Michael Bowden (water engineer), Dr Jim Cooke (scientist), Edward Ellison (Ngai Tahu) and Professor David Hamilton (lake ecologist, Waikato University).
What do you think of the factory dairy farming
application and the minister's decision to intervene? Have
your say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentBM said on 2010-01-28 @ 22:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
So the Prime Minister is confident New Zealand's clean green image won't be hurt by free stall farming and doubts consumers will be put off buying our dairy products . I previously had hope in your leadership John. Now I see your just another big business lackey. You've definately got this wrong just read all the coments on this subject John to see this. You just lost my vote and I am sure lots of others.
kberry said on 2010-01-27 @ 17:29 NZDT: Report abusive post
Why is NZ in such a hurry to become like America? Anyone who has done any research can see just how far we have become removed from the natural order of things in how we grow and treat our food. Cows are grazers. They eat grass, not corn, in pastures, not sheds. This will only promote deformity and disease. Food will be full of more chemicals, and hormones, and will simply NOT BE GOOD FOOD. Check out the film "FOOD INC." to see the state of feed lots in the USA. Simply disgusting. SAY NO!!!!!!!
jillhh100 said on 2010-01-27 @ 17:20 NZDT: Report abusive post
Having lived overseas eating and drinking dairy products produced by this type of farming I dearly hope we don't head down this route. The products just don't taste as good!! As an environmental engineer I'm confident that solutions can be found for the enviro issues - but the damage the this does to taste and our quality brand in the market, that can't be repaired.
BM said on 2010-01-27 @ 17:07 NZDT: Report abusive post
Kris are you saying the meat will be sold cheaper? I can't imagine this at all. Why would the producers sell cage meat at a cheaper cost than field produced meat? This is all about money making and greed. Even if the meat was sold cheaper the real issue is the inhumane treatment of the animals. This farming method is cruel.
BM said on 2010-01-27 @ 16:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
New Zealand is suposed to be clean and green and humane. Overseas this method of keeping animals is used. However we should take the lead and reject this cruel inhumane method of animal farming. I say keep those applying for consent in the conditions they expect the animals to live in for a year and if after this they still want consent give them it. They won't apply for consent having endured the barbaric conditions of course.