Farm plastic recycling scheme extended
27 March 2008
Taranaki Regional Council media release

Liners filled with bale wrap from Taranaki farms.

A scheme for recycling silage wrap and other farm plastics has been extended into North Taranaki.

Inglewood contractor Ken Moratti is now involved in the Agpac recycling scheme, which is also available through Mark Hinton or Barry Taunt in Stratford, and Michael Silson in Kaponga.

Under the scheme, farmers are supplied a large bin and liners in which to contain the plastic wrap. These are collected for recycling when full.

Silage wrap and other farm plastics have traditionally been disposed of by burning or burying, causing environmental damage.

Under the Agpac system, farmers are urged to bin their plastic immediately it comes off the bale instead of leaving it to lie around and become excessively contaminated with manure, dirt and other material.

The bin liner is made of the same material as the silage wrap, so the whole unit needs no further processing before being presented at a recycling plant.

The scheme operates two streams. The first includes baleage wrap, silage pit covers, small feed and fertiliser bags, plastic packaging and shrink wrap. The second includes bulk feed or fertiliser bags that have woven PP outer bags and LDPE inner bags.

Farmers can buy a bin ($480 + GST) and liners ($10 + GST), then either drop off the full liner ($20 + GST) or arrange to have it collected ($40 + GST).

For more details, call Mr Moratti on 06 756 8066 or 027 443 4858, Mr Hinton on 06 765 6668, Mr Taunt on 06 762 2890 or 021 139 9875, or Mr Silson on 06 764 6222.

• Egmont Refuse in Scott St, Hawera, is accepting silage wrap for no charge on a trial basis. It needs to be contained, for example in urea bags (which also helps prevent further contamination), and should be as clean as possible. So it needs a good shake before putting it in the bags. For more details, call Raymond Buckland on 06 278 6170.

See the farm plastics page on this website for more information.

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Salinger here to explore Big Dry
25 March 2008
Taranaki Regional Council media release

With the weather being the topic on everyone’s lips in Taranaki, one of the nation’s leading climate experts can expect a barrage of questions when he visits the region next week.

Jim Salinger, Principal Climate Scientist with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), will present free public seminars at Stratford, Hawera and New Plymouth on Monday, 31 March.

Dr Salinger will explore the causes of the current Big Dry and the current composition of the atmospheric stew, including the role of the La Nina climate pattern, and suggest weather prospects for the coming months.

Seminar details are:

See the flyer for more details.

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Now's the time to hit pampas
20 March 2008
Taranaki Regional Council media release

Native toetoe flower head (left) compared with the more upright exotic pampas grass flower head (right). Note that pampas flowers can also droop when they get older, so also check the leaf and leaf base. The base of the native toetoe leaf is waxy, and the leaf itself is ridged.

The pampas is starting to flower so let the spraying begin.

That’s the message from the Taranaki Regional Council, which is urging land owners and occupiers to destroy the declared pest plant as it flowers and before seeds become viable.

Glyphosate or glyphosate powder is the recommended treatment.

Common pampas and purple pampas are among the targets in the Council’s Pest Plant Management Strategy because of the way they threaten biodiversity by suppressing native plants along forest and streambank margins, in scrub and secondary forests, and wetlands and coastal areas.

Pampas also hinders agricultural production, particularly by strangling forestry seedlings in planted forests. The plant can also be a nuisance on roadside verges.

Under the Strategy, all common or purple pampas must be destroyed unless the plants are being used as hedges or shelterbelts and are prevented from flowering or seeding – but even these must be destroyed by 2012.

The Taranaki Regional Council Compliance Manager, Bruce Pope, says pampas hedgerows and shelterbelts should be progressively destroyed to meet the 2012 deadline.

He says alternatives for shelter can include trees, flaxes, native toetoe and karo. These not only provide shelter but enhance landscape values and biodiversity values.

“Pampas should not be confused with native toetoe, which is smaller with a waxy surface on the leaf base and droopy flower heads,” says Mr Pope.

For more information, call the Taranaki Regional Council on 0800 736 222 and ask to speak to a Pest Plant Investigating Officer.

An information sheet is also available on this website.

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Dry spell officially declared a drought
18 March 2008
Taranaki Regional Council media release

The Taranaki Regional Council today declared a drought as farmers struggle to deal with the prolonged dry spell the region has been experiencing since early November.

The Taranaki Regional Council Chairman, David MacLeod, says drought conditions exist in the area of Coastal Taranaki extending south from Okato, through all of South Taranaki District to the region’s southern boundary, and including southern and eastern parts of the Stratford District.

The South Taranaki District Mayor, Ross Dunlop, says with no rain predicted before May, the declaration is designed to open up new avenues of Government assistance for farmers. “Those who are struggling should seek help now.”

Mr MacLeod says other parts of the region are also experiencing dry conditions but the Taranaki Regional Council believes the area covered by the declaration is where conditions are critical.

“The Council is formally asking the Government, and in particular Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton, to provide all reasonable assistance to farmers suffering undue stress as a result of this extreme situation.

“MAF is offering financial and welfare assistance to affected farmers through the region’s Rural Support Trust. And I understand that Government will provide funding through the Trust for an Agricultural Recovery Co-ordinator.”

To contact the Taranaki Rural Support Trust, call 0800 757 3423 (from 19 March) or 06 757 3423.

Mr MacLeod acknowledges the hardship that many farmers are currently experiencing and, with the support of the South Taranaki District Mayor, Ross Dunlop, wants to reassure them that the Taranaki community will endeavour to support them during this difficult period.

Tax concessions and welfare assistance are among Government drought relief measures.

The Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner for Taranaki, Gloria Campbell says Work and Income has been working with the Rural Support Trust to assess needs and monitor the situation.

Financial assistance can include Unemployment Benefit, Emergency Benefit, Special Needs Grants and Recoverable Assistance Payments. Mrs Campbell says Rural Assistance Payments may also be available to farmers who are in financial hardship in a drought declared area.

Anyone affected by the drought who needs some sort of financial support or emergency assistance should call the Government helpline, 0800 779 997.

Drought information is also available on the MAF website and the Work and Income website.

See also this Taranaki Regional Council information leaflet: Wells and bores - information for farmers and contractors.

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Nominations close soon for Environmental Awards
14 March 2008
Taranaki Regional Council media release

Nominations close at the end of the month for the 2008 Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards.

Now in their 16th year, the annual awards recognise outstanding environmental contributions by businesses, the agricultural sector, individuals, schools and community groups. Nominations must be made by 31 March.

Taranaki Regional Council Chairman David MacLeod says there has been a good range of nominations so far but there is always room for more.

There have been 121 award winners since 1993.

“We’ve recognised environmental champions in a wide variety of fields over the years. It’s important to mark the efforts that have helped Taranaki maintain healthy rivers, a rich landscape, clean air, and a quality coastal environment,” he says.

To qualify, projects must make a practical contribution to the sustainable management of the natural resources of the region, or promote community awareness of the need for sustainable management through a promotional or educational programme.

All the projects must be sustainable over time and not depend on a continuing subsidy larger than the benefit to the community. They must be current, ongoing or nearing completion, and be carried out in Taranaki.

There are three categories: Agricultural, business/local authority, and individual/school/community.

Nomination forms are available from the Taranaki Regional Council’s Senior Information Officer, Rusty Ritchie (phone 06 765 7127 or e-mail rusty.ritchie@trc.govt.nz). Nominations can also be made on-line.

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Lead or be led
10 March 2008
By the Taranaki Regional Council Chairman, David MacLeod
for New Zealand Farmers' Weekly

The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord of 2003 represented formal acknowledgement by dairy industry leaders that environmental neglect was to be put behind us for a rural vision incorporating healthy waterways as well as agricultural productivity.

It was a starting point for a necessary journey but one that is neither easy nor inexpensive – a fact easily overlooked by those not directly involved in the project. By comparison, sniping from the sidelines generally is a cheap and easy pastime.

In our region, for example, more than 300 rivers and streams flow from the slopes of Mt Taranaki across the prime dairy country of the surrounding ringplain. That’s a lot of streambank to fence and plant. Indeed, while the Taranaki Regional Council has already supplied land owners with more than 1 million trees at cost for riparian planting, there is still a long way to completion.

This Council has long recognised the importance of protecting water quality. Effective riparian management was a strong focus for many years before being incorporated into the Regional Action Plan drawn up under the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord.

Taranaki’s waterways are not crashing into decline, despite increasing intensification of dairying. Indeed, there are more positive water quality indicator trends than negative, although we do have some deterioration in nitrogen status. But importantly, phosphorus levels are reasonably stable – and it is phosphorus that is the worst culprit in algal growth because Taranaki’s streams are generally “P limited”.

We are not complacent, however, and with ever-increasing dairy stocking rates, we know more needs to be done to protect our waterways.

Unlike the approach elsewhere, the Regional Action Plan for Taranaki encompasses riparian planting as well as fencing. This is because of the proven effectiveness of riparian vegetation in filtering pollution and providing shade. Riparian buffers keep water temperatures down and enhance biodiversity.

The benefits have been underscored during the current dry summer when it has been noticeable that stream temperatures and biological stress are lower in catchments with significant riparian planting.

By the end of the last financial year, 62% of Taranaki dairy farms had a riparian management plan drawn up at no charge by Taranaki Regional Council staff. The target under the Accord is 90% by 2010.

The Regional Action Plan for Taranaki’s scoreboard to last June also included 48% of streambanks protected by fencing and 42% protected by vegetation, 93% of regular stream crossings adequately bridged or culverted, 100% of dairy farms having dairy discharge consents, 79% of regionally significant wetlands being fenced and 65%-plus of dairy farms having nutrient budgets.

Of the fencing and planting, however, only 3% to 4% is new work and the rest was already there before riparian management plans were drawn up. So there is much to be done to meet the Regional Action Plan targets of having 50% of the plans implemented by 2010 and 90% by 2015.

This Council’s approach in respect of riparian planting to control pasture run-off of contaminants to streams has long been to work alongside people to bring about positive environmental change. For example, we are now starting to co-ordinate tenders and contractors for the fencing and planting work, to further assist farmers.

But we are also not afraid of strict enforcement if we believe a regulatory approach is the most appropriate way forward.

A case in point is farm dairy shed discharge compliance – another important aspect of the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord. For many years the Council has strictly monitored and enforced compliance of consents for farm dairies.

The non-compliance rate was a record low 2.7% in Taranaki in 2006/2007, and a feature of that season was the relatively high number of prosecutions pursued by the Council, with fines ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. The Council also issued 73 abatement notices and 11 infringement notices relating to farm dairy non-compliance.

The evidence shows that as the use of enforcement tools increases, the compliance rate increases. The higher fines now set by the Environment Court also send a strong message to those in breach of their consents.

The Hon Jim Anderton and the Hon Trevor Mallard allude to the possibility of new regulatory instruments to enforce protection of water quality. That’s another strong message. When it comes to good water quality management practices, the challenge and opportunity facing our dairy farmers is to “lead or be led”.

The Taranaki Regional Council is committed to working with farmers to assist them to be leaders in sustainable farming. It is a common goal that we all need to share and achieve.

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Garden portal to another world
7 March 2008
Taranaki Regional Council media release

The new gatehouse takes shape at Hollard Gardens.

When you begin a construction project in the midst of what is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most interesting plant collections, it’s wise to tread thoughtfully.

That’s why visitors have to squint through the foliage to see the builders hard at work on a new gatehouse at Hollard Gardens, near Kaponga on the southern flank of Mount Taranaki.

Site clearance was kept to an absolute minimum and as the new structure takes shape, it almost appears to be part of the surrounding trees and bushes. For those entering the gatehouse from the newly sealed car park, it will be like stepping into another world.

The construction is part of a refurbishment project taking in both Hollard Gardens and Tupare in New Plymouth. Both historic properties are owned by the Taranaki Regional Council.

“The new gatehouse at Hollard Gardens will give visitors a fittingly dramatic introduction to the property – they’ll know they’ve arrived somewhere special,” says the Council’s Regional Gardens Manager, Greg Rine.

“Here they will be given information and way-finding material to allow them to explore the property, appreciate the vision of the late Bernie Hollard who established the gardens, and learn why the plant collection here is highly regarded locally, nationally and internationally.”

Also under construction is an events pavilion – on the main lawn, to make it an ideal venue for a variety of functions. It will include small kitchen facilities and toilets.

“It will be a great place for all sorts of events, from weddings to service club fundraisers,” says Mr Rine. “We are also keen on the idea of using it for regular gardeners’ workshops aimed at both the general gardener and those with specialist interests.”

The refurbishment project also includes the cataloguing of the thousands of plants at the 4.5 ha gardens. Work has already begun and Mr Rine says the state-of-the-art software being used offers the potential for the public to use the information at a variety of levels, depending on their depth of interest.

“Some people might only want to know the common name of a particular plant. Others might want full botanical details. It will all be there.”

Bernie Hollard established the garden on bare land in 1927 and before his death in 1996 was awarded a Queen’s Service Order for his work in building up such a significant plant collection.

The refurbishment project will continue into the autumn and the new-look gardens will be formally unveiled in the spring.

Both Hollard Gardens and Tupare remain free to visit as the refurbishment work is carried out. They are open daily from 9am to 5pm.

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