The Otago Regional Council is proposing changes to its water quality plan which would mean some land in North Otago couldn’t be farmed.
One of those affected by the planned change is Robert Borst who farms 580 hectares in the Kakanui Valley.
. . . Mr Borst believed there was a lack of understanding of the implications for farming businesses as a result of what the council was trying to impose, and it was “hellbent on bulldozing along”.
“The harsh reality is, unless I get this overturned, all these people [his staff] and the whole farming business is finished. That’s what we’re fighting.” . . .
. . . “Here we’re talking about probably hundreds of jobs and family farming businesses put in jeopardy.”
The way it was heading, there would be pristine water in the Kakanui Valley but no-one living there, he said.
We drink this water and swim in it.
We want it to be clean and to stay clean.
But the proposed changes appear to be an extreme reaction which would prevent farming in the area.
