SFF Project 13-075: North Canterbury Sustainable Farming Systems
Hawarden (Waitohi-Waipara-Southern Hurunui) Catchment Care Group
Record of meeting 25 February
Present
James Hoban (ECAN), Andrew Harris, Phil Keene (NZLT), James Forbes, Mark Zino, David
Fincham, Dan Hodgen, James Costello.
Apologies
Sam Zino, Richard Power
Agreed actions from initial meeting
1. Catchment map and boundaries provided and discussed geographical extent of group.
Agreed the group could cover the Waitohi-Waipara -Southern Hurunui area.
2. Andrew is arranging appropriate science speaker asap, common to all groups.
3. Discussion was evolving on what other community groups and members could be invited
to the table.
4. Some web links to appropriate information on farmer actions have been provided.
Discussion and Issues covered
- the options for farm environment plans by each catchment collective
- the dry-land groups interface with red zones
- costs of intensification, mitigation and irrigation borne by dry-land groups v impact on
catchment load
- how the head room would be managed, and by whom
- where the nutrient loads emanated in the entire catchment and if those consents
contributing the greater % could be called in - how is this aspect to be managed in the
future?
- the extent of monitoring and the need for a more intensive process; Andrew outlined the
work of the Phosphorous working group set up under the Zone Committee
- maintenance of riverbeds, pest weeds, advantages and disadvantages of riparian planting
- the relationship of water quality to catchment load, possible impact on the Waitohi
community
- the impact of mitigation on farm succession, equity, broader impact on community loss
- inter-generational sheep and beef farms had worked for 50 years plus, fencing and making
improvements, building up 'credit' that would quickly be eroded
- it was noted one tenth of the land in the catchment contributes 50% of the P (total
nutrient?) load.
- Andrew pointed to the recent Fed Farmers submissions and the need to present the
groups views at upcoming workshop (see http://ecan.govt.nz/publications/Council/hurunuimeeting-170214.pdf).
- Andrew outlined the recent Mitigator tool being used by Ballance ( see
http://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-management/tool-to-cut-losses-andgrow-more) as well as possible banking industry involvement with the project. The use of
particular providers to the project would not bind individual group members.
- options for case study sites were discussed.
- early options for landowners appeared to be to intensify and irrigate, to continue to
measure the nutrients from each farm in a way to increase the value of the land and to do
this with a focus on best practice for winter grazing.
- Phil outlined the reason for and content of the draft memorandum of understanding. It
was a statement of goodwill and described the groups relationship with the SFF project. It
does not confine what the group may wish to do and was a guiding document for all parties
to work together. ECANS commitment and responsibilities also included for guidelines on
Overseer and Farm Plans.
- Phil outlined the LEP workshop at Mendip Hills, and public field day and the process for
registering.
Agreed actions
- a final MOU would be developed following the current round of meetings and Andrew
would visit the group rep for signature.
- Phil outlined the planning dates for the baseline survey, 8-10 April and the community
catchment workshop, week of 28 April. A communications plan would also be developed in
April.
- Group reps would look to present their views at the workshop meeting on 17 March.
- a science speaker to be engaged asap.
- catchment group members to continue to assess future membership
- each farm operation to be actively working on soil moisture measures, implementing
Overseer 6 with their providers to continue to build the profile for their operation.
- note Beef+ Lamb LEPs ordered for all members by Andrew.