Selwyn Times: November 21, 2017
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40 2 Wednesday [Edition datE] <strong>November</strong> 22 <strong>2017</strong><br />
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi<br />
SELWYN RURAL LIFE<br />
SELWYN TIMES<br />
Farmers reminded to<br />
watch irrigator aim<br />
With irrigation season underway,<br />
Environment Canterbury is reminding<br />
irrigators to be aware of where their water<br />
is going and irrigate the grass, not the road.<br />
Environment Canterbury principal<br />
resource management advisor Richard<br />
Purdon said several complaints have<br />
already been received so irrigators need to<br />
adjust their aim.<br />
“Irrigation onto roads, particularly gravel<br />
roads, is not only a waste of water but also<br />
has the potential to create safety issues for<br />
motorists.<br />
“It is the surprise element and the force of<br />
the water that could easily startle a motorist,<br />
it is especially dangerous for those on<br />
motorcycles. Our staff have been receiving<br />
an increasing number of calls, especially in<br />
our Ashburton office, and our locally based<br />
water zone officers will be responding to<br />
these on a case-by-case basis,” Mr Purdon<br />
said.<br />
Irrigation consent holders are responsible<br />
for the use of water that is applied to their<br />
properties, he said.<br />
“Resource consent conditions authorise<br />
the use of water to a consented piece of land,<br />
not to run to waste. While we understand it<br />
can be difficult on windy days, it is still a<br />
breach of their consent.<br />
“Irrigation system operators must<br />
monitor the use of their water and<br />
equipment to make sure the water is used<br />
in the way that was authorised and not<br />
wasted.”<br />
Irrigation New Zealand chief executive<br />
Andrew Curtis said the two main culprits<br />
for water going over-boundary were the<br />
end guns on pivot irrigators and travelling<br />
irrigators set up too close to roads.<br />
“Watering onto roads creates a significant<br />
safety hazard, so it’s really important for<br />
irrigators to ensure they water within their<br />
Attention<br />
all farmers<br />
If you’re in need of a resource<br />
consent, we can help.<br />
• Effluent discharge<br />
• Groundwater<br />
• Surface water<br />
• FEP / Land Use<br />
• Due diligence<br />
• Monitoring &<br />
compliance<br />
• Advocacy<br />
property boundaries.<br />
“My advice is to ensure end guns are<br />
set and operating correctly and regularly<br />
checked. When you set up your travelling<br />
irrigator always have a set-back distance<br />
from the road,” he said.<br />
“Aside from the safety issue, people don’t<br />
like seeing water being wasted by being<br />
sprayed onto roads. Farmers who irrigate<br />
do so under strict regulatory regimes so it’s<br />
important they justify their use of water by<br />
being efficient and responsible with it.”<br />
Anyone experiencing<br />
spray on the road<br />
that is clearly coming<br />
from an irrigation<br />
system should<br />
contact Environment<br />
Canterbury on<br />
0800 324 636. If there<br />
is immediate danger to<br />
road users they should<br />
contact the police.<br />
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