Environment Canterbury welcomes Minister’s drought announcement

Environment Canterbury today welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Primary Industries, Hon Nathan Guy, that the medium-scale adverse event announced last year would be extended.

Chief Executive Bill Bayfield said the announcement would give the farmers and their families who need it most continued access to support, and would also highlight the dry weather challenges for farmers to the wider community.

“I’d like to acknowledge the work of the South Island Drought Committee and the Rural Trust. Our people in the field are also working with and supporting farmers every day,” Mr Bayfield said. “While they are pleased with the recent rain, which has also given rivers some relief, we are seeing farmer stress continuing due to the need to destock and other responses to the ongoing drought.

“It is crucial that farmers have access to the water they need for stock and for consented irrigation. Access to water for these purposes is top priority both for farmers and for Canterbury’s economy.”

The ability to irrigate is not unrestricted. Almost every river in Canterbury has a minimum flow level in place to protect the environment. Water take consent conditions are written to make sure irrigation water takes stop when a minimum flow is reached.

Some groundwater takes are also subject to river low-flow restrictions because they are directly linked to a nearby river or stream.

Bill Bayfield said some farmers are able to continue irrigating because they have groundwater takes that are not directly linked to rivers on restriction due to low flows. “If you see irrigation happening near a low-flow river, for example, that may not be having an impact on its flow,” he said.

Groundwater consent holders also have conditions which include the maximum rate of take as well as a total annual volume that can be used.

Most water take restrictions as a result of low river flows are updated daily by Environment Canterbury scientists and are available atwww.ecan.govt.nz – go to Irrigation Restrictions in the Get it Done Online section on the home page.

If you have a water take and need further advice or have any questions, please contact Customer Services on 0800 324 636.

“If a farmer’s access to stockwater or irrigation water is subject to resource consent conditions, Environment Canterbury will carefully consider those conditions and the individual’s circumstances with the current situation firmly in mind. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any issues,” Bill Bayfield said.

“We will do everything we can to help farmers get appropriate access to water - we don’t want to see livestock suffering needlessly.

“While the recent rain wasn’t drought breaking it was certainly very helpful. We still have February and March to get through though.”

Background

North Canterbury had 75 to 100 millimetres of rain in January in two main events - early January and this week. Coastal South Canterbury has had 75 millimetres, mostly earlier this week.

This rain has replenished soil moisture which helps plant growth.

Many rivers have come off irrigation restriction and have had small freshes which will help clear out cyanobacterial growths.

There has not been enough rain to replenish aquifers, but this doesn’t normally happen in summer – aquifers are usually replenished in winter.

For the latest Environment Canterbury drought FAQ, go to www.ecan.govt.nz/news-and-notices/news/pages/dry-season-faq-210116.aspx

For Ministry for Primary Industries drought information go to www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/response-and-management/adverse-events/classifying-adverse-events-/dealing-with-drought-conditions/

“Surface water” means all fresh water ecosystems above the ground – rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, springs and stormwater.

“Groundwater” means fresh water out of sight under the earth’s surface.

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