Helping unpack regulations with farmers in Culverden
A recent biodiversity and regulations workshop in Culverden provided the opportunity for farmers to better understand new rules and regulations through a question-and-answer session with our staff.
More than 20 farmers attended the workshop at Fyffe Downs Farm.
Breaking down regulations
Land management and biodiversity advisor Andrew Turnbull said demonstrating to people how to undergo a permitted activity by meeting the conditions will reduce the negative effects on the environment and prevent potential non-compliance from occurring.
Andrew said the workshop highlighted permitted activity rules around vegetation clearance in and around water bodies — including wetlands, riverbeds and riparian margins. Also discussed were the rules relating to this activity that are in the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan as well as the new regulations in the National Environmental Standard for Freshwater relating to inland wetland restoration works.
"With this specific activity, it’s all about minimising sediment entering and becoming suspended in the waterway. If you can meet the conditions set within the permitted activity you will not need a consent to clear away the vegetation around waterbodies," Andrew said.
Help is available
"It’s within our nature to want to solve issues ourselves, but we want farmers to know they can reach out. We’re here to help and we want to find the best solution for your property with you," he added.
Andrew said those who came were well engaged and came equipped with great questions.
"I received fantastic feedback about how much they got out of this sort of hands-on field day. We’re looking forward to having more of these in the future," he said.
Stream restoration project
The farm the workshop was held at had recently undergone a stream restoration project, which included willow removal.
"We had a 20-tonne digger at the workshop with an 800-millimetre shearer attached to the arm, to demonstrate how efficient the tool is at collecting and cutting willows. The six-metre arm is long enough to extract trees and place them 10-metres away from the waterbody ready to be chipped up into pulp and calf bedding," Andrew said.
Removal of willows
"You can get multiple jobs done with just one tool, which is really cool," he added.
Get in touch
Contact Andrew or one of the local team for guidance on how to follow the regulations on your farm. If you live in a different area, find your zone for the details of your local team.