The scale of response to proposals for factory farming in the fragile Mackenzie Basin may see decisions on resource consents go back to Environment Minister Nick Smith for a decision.
I am visiting the Mackenzie Basin today to have a look at the proposals. Before driving down I went into Environment Canterbury to have a look at the resource consents. While doing so I discovered a December 23 letter from Ecan’s chief executive Dr Bryan Jenkins to Nick Smith. It covers the current resource consent hearings for three corporate dairy farm operations involving 8000 hectares of land housing 17,000 cows.
Jenkins notes the huge debate about factory farming. Of 3000 submissions on the resource consents, indications are 75 percent are against the housing of cows a la Americana feedlot style.
Under questioning in the House last month, Agriculture Minister David Carter said he was seeking urgent advice on the animal welfare issues raised.
Fonterra and others said housing cattle put at risk New Zealand’s reputation for pasture fed meat and dairy products.
Jenkins says Ecan’s legal advice is that it can’t consider animal welfare issues as part of a resource consent hearing. But he has asked if Smith is considering a call-in under Section 142 of the Resource Management Act, which allows the Minister to use call in powers if matters are arousing widespread public concern regarding likely effects on the environment. This is a process where the decision goes back to Government.
I think Smith should give serious consideration to using his call in powers, given all the issues of animal welfare and damage to NZ’s reputation.
He only has a a week to act as the time-frame for a call-in expires for two of the three corporate dairy applications next week.
