Buller River faces Environmental Nightmare

The Buller River system, which has National Park status under a Water Conservation Order, faces an environmental nightmare, Fish and Game New Zealand said today.

"We conducted an aerial audit this week of the upper reaches of the River and we were shocked by what we saw," says Neil Deans Fish and Game spokesperson. "This River system is a national treasure and to see commercial operators destroying the River just appals us, especially when those authorities who should be protecting it are sitting on their hands."

"The scale of land development for corporate dairy farming is just mind boggling. One operator has interests in at least eight different properties spread throughout the area."

"These properties are turned into industrial farming factories regardless of the environmental effects, particularly on water ways. The scale of land modification is enormous; gully clearance, wetland drainage, stream diversions, no evident treatment systems for new cattle sheds, cattle stand off pads in water ways, unfenced cattle access to streams in paddocks and numerous unbridged stream crossings threaten water ways and water quality. Surely these are all illegal practices under the Resource Management Act.".

"This uncontrolled expansion in corporate dairy farming is putting huge pressure on water and habitat quality in major upper Buller River tributaries. We have videoed this destruction from the air to try and raise awareness of the problem with those who should be protecting this river system."

"We want to know why there has been months of inattention and inaction from statutory bodies and the dairy industry. Months have passed since we expressed our concerned to the landowner and local authorities at some of this development."

"No action has been taken to stop unauthorised activities except for one abatement notice issued for illegal wetland drainage."

"The Tasman District Council, and the West Coast Regional Council didn't know what was going on despite the fact it is under their noses and still don't want to seem to know. The milking season has just started and cattle crossings of waterways are now happening daily. There are health risks to Springs Junction residents whose water has been taken from streams flowing past newly developed areas and milking sheds"

"Almost the only action has been to measure how bad the problem is, not to prevent it or ensure compliance with the legislation. Further procrastination will not make the issue go away. The message comes across that this level of environmental degradation is OK. Not all farmers have such cavalier disregard for their environmental  responsibilities, but until Councils, farmers and the industry set and hold to enforceable standards, the problems will continue and put a world class ecosystem at risk."
 Ends

For further information:
Neil Deans
W 03 544 6382
A/H 03 546 8080
025 394 381.