October 11, 2006

MEDIA STATEMENT
Canterbury farmers warned to check ECan website or River Infoline for irrigation restrictions

With the potential for an El Nino or drought summer ahead, Environment Canterbury’s consents’ compliance and enforcement team is warning irrigators to stick to the conditions on their consents.

ECan chair of regulation hearings Cr Alec Neill says all consent holders should know that it is their responsibility to check when they are allowed to irrigate. This means a daily check on the ECan website, which is updated daily, or a call to the River and Flood Infoline (083 55 22 55).

Already several sites or groups of irrigators from the Rakaia River south, are on full irrigation restriction.

Cr Neill noted that earlier this year a Norwood, Central Canterbury farmer, was fined $12,000 for taking water from a bore for which he had no consent to do so.

“Farmers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the conditions on their water take resource consents, particularly at this time of the year,” Cr Neill said.

ENDS

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