A workshop for North Otago dairy farmers, advising around effluent storage ponds and effluent discharge to land is being held at Weston, next Thursday (July 6). 

The workshop is the second in a series the Otago Regional Council is running in July, with the first in Milton, South Otago, on Tuesday (July 4).

ORC acting consents manager Alexandra King said the new rules have been in place for about 18 months around the subject, which applies to several hundred farms in Otago.

The rules were introduced through Plan Change 8 to the Water Plan last year.

“While there’s been a lot of engagement with dairy farmers through the annual compliance programme over the last two years, including workshops and letters to dairy farmers, this is another opportunity to ask questions and get advice,” she said.

The two-hour workshop will be held at Weston Hall at 1pm-3pm.

ORC compliance staff have been out on more than 302 dairy farms this year; and visited 277 the previous season, talking with the farmers about this issue and other compliance regulations, Alexandra said.

“Most of these farms will need a consent for their dairy effluent storage at some stage over the next 30 months.”

Farmers need to be considering the volume of effluent storage they have on their farm, when they need to potentially install new storage facilities or have the resource consents in place to do so. 

“The two workshops aim to provide consent and compliance advice for dairy effluent systems and will also offer guidance from industry experts,” she said.

There will be speakers from the ORC consents and compliance teams, and technical and best practice advice from industry experts and representatives.

Some farms may require substantial investment in effluent infrastructure to comply, which could include engaging engineers and planning for future modifications, replacement, or enlargement.

“Now is the time for farmers to begin this process so they are on the path toward making the required changes,” Alexandra said.

The new provisions introduced last year include setting minimum standards for animal effluent storage and its application to land, and for the establishment of small in-stream sediment traps where required.

“Ultimately, these protections are to safeguard the future of waterways, which directly support various natural ecosystems, including farmland,” she said.

Registration for the workshop is necessary.

Background to rule changes

In June last year ORC Councillors ratified changes to the operative Regional Plan: Water for Otago, which allowed some key parts of proposed ‘Plan change 8’, which related to rural discharges, to become operative - which started from 4 June last year.

View a fact sheet about effluent

View a fact sheet about effluent storage consents

View a fact sheet about rules, definitions and timelines for effluent

ORC Catchment Advisors can be contacted on 0800 474 082

Advice can be sought from [email protected]