Suspension of aerial monitoring flights
Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Waikato Regional Council
The request was successful.
From: Alex Harris
Dear Waikato Regional Council,
In June 2014 Radio New Zealand reported that the Waikato Regional Council had suspended helicopter surveillance of farm effluent compliance ("Farmers irritated by aerial checks", RNZ, 17 June 2014). I would like to request the following information under the LGOIMA:
* all documents and advice relating to the decision to suspend helicopter surveillance of farm effluent compliance. I am particularly interested in official briefings, any analyis of the effectiveness of the flights, and any complaints about them.
I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.
Yours faithfully,
Alex Harris
From: Catherine Robinson
Good afternoon Alex
Thank you for your email. I acknowledge receipt of your request.
We will have our response to you as quickly as possible
Kind regards
Catherine
Catherine Robinson | Statutory Processes Advisor | Office of the Deputy CEO
Waikato Regional Council
P: +64 7 859 0763
F: +64 7 859 0998
Private Bag 3038, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240
Please consider the environment before printing this email
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From: Catherine Robinson
Good afternoon Alex
On 26 June 2014 the Waikato Regional Council confirmed that it will
suspend use of helicopters for monitoring dairy farm effluent compliance
pending a review of its methods for checking farmers are working within
the rules to protect waterways.
A working party has been established with nominated representatives from
the dairy leaders’ forum and councillors Alan Livingston, Clyde Graf and
Stuart Husband to investigate the options for monitoring farm effluent and
make a recommendation to Council identifying the best option.
The full reports and minutes of that meeting are available on our website,
including the staff report outlining the implications of ceasing the use
of aerial monitoring. The relevant section of the Council minutes begins
at page 51:
[1]http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Communi...
The decision followed an earlier recommendation from the Environmental
Performance Committee at its meeting of 12 June 2014 for an interim halt
to the flights, pending a review, after it heard about the stress
helicopter monitoring caused farmers.
The full minutes of that meeting, as well as the presentations made by
farmers, are available on our website:
[2]http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Communi...
Individual councillors may have received complaints from particular
farmers, but the information provided on our website is all that was
considered by our elected members in their decision to temporarily suspend
aerial monitoring of farm dairy effluent.
I trust this information is useful, please contact me if I can be of any
further assistance
Kind regards
Catherine
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