ECan has failed farmers who have securely fenced their waterways and provided water for stock on their farms by letting Lakes Station off with no fine, the Green Party said today.
Lakes Station cows were photographed wading in Lake Taylor last month, after being deliberately allowed through a fence to cool off.
“What sort of message is ECan sending other farmers by letting Lakes Station off with no fine? Many farmers have taken the lead by fencing off waterways to stock, undertaken riparian planting at the edges of waterways, and provided proper infrastructure on their farms so that cows have plenty to drink on hot days. They are doing the right thing, so why not Lakes Station?” said Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.
“Stock in waterways cause nitrogen pollution in the water, pug the stream banks, and lead to sedimentation of rivers and streams.
“For ECan to say this incident was isolated and only caused minor damage, goes against what others in the area have been saying: that this farmer has repeatedly let cows into the lake.
“We want to see how ECan intend to guarantee this farm is getting the support it needs to stop this situation recurring, and a guarantee that if it does happen again, the farm will be severely penalised.
“Lakes Station need to provide water for their cows on farm instead of jeopardising the lake, just like other farmers do,” said Ms Delahunty.
ECan has failed farmers who have securely fenced their waterways and provided water for stock on their farms by letting Lakes Station off with no fine, the Green Party said today.
Lakes Station cows were photographed wading in Lake Taylor last month, after being deliberately allowed through a fence to cool off.
“This is sending a bad message to farmers by letting Lakes Station off with no fine,” said Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.
“Many farmers have taken the lead by fencing off waterways to stock, undertaken riparian planting at the edges of waterways, and provided proper infrastructure on their farms so that cows have plenty to drink on hot days. Not fining Lakes Station tells these hardworking farmers not to bother,”
“Stock in waterways cause nitrogen pollution in the water, pug the stream banks, and lead to sedimentation of rivers and streams.
“For ECan to say this incident was isolated and only caused minor damage, goes against what others in the area have been saying: that this farmer has repeatedly let cows into the lake.
“We want to see how ECan intends to guarantee this farm is getting the support it needs to stop this situation recurring, and a guarantee that if it does happen again, the farm will be severely penalised.
“Lakes Station needs to provide water for its cows on the farm instead of jeopardising the lake, just like other farmers do,” said Ms Delahunty.
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