The Otago Regional Council is running a series of dairy farmer workshops in July, providing information about effluent storage pond regulations.
ORC’s acting manager consents, Alexandra King, said new rules for effluent ponds and the discharge of effluent to land have been in place for about 18 months. They apply to several hundred farms in Otago and 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 first two-hour workshops will be in Milton, South Otago on July 4 and Weston, North Otago, on July 6.
King said ORC’s compliance staff have been out on more than 302 dairy farms this year and visited 277 the previous season, talking with farmers about this issue and other compliance regulations.
“Most of these farms will need a consent for their dairy effluent storage at some stage over the next 30 months,” King said.
