One Plan action concerns

HAVING HIS SAY: Dannevirke dairy farmer Andrew Hardie, one of the 300 people who attended a meeting on Monday on the effects of Horizons' One Plan. PHOTO/Christine McKay

With legal action on Horizons One Plan now filed with the Environment Court, Tararua dairy farmer and mayoral candidate Tracey Collis says her first concern is for the farmers of the district.

"Farmers served with papers regarding the court action had no idea their One Plan consents had been requested under the Official Information Act," she said.

"However, it's time for clear heads. We need to try to leave the emotion out of this."

Wellington Fish and Game and the Environmental Defence Society have gone to the Environment Court challenging aspects of Horizons One Plan and, Mrs Collis said, for Tararua dairy farmers, it's tough trying to cope with the unknown.

"My farm has been through the consenting process and I'm happy with where we are at, but I am very concerned that it's ratepayers who will pay Horizons Regional Council's predicted $500,000 bill to fight this challenge.

This is on top of money already spent and I want to see this money spent on improving our environment."

Clint Worthington, president of Tararua Federated Farmers, told the Dannevirke News it's a trying time for farmers.

"A tiny minority is dictating to the majority. The majority of people are happy with what farmers are achieving. We are all making improvements and I've never heard of one farmer who wants to pollute."

Federated Farmers are filing a 274, which allows them to be party to the court proceedings as Mr Worthington said they need to look after farmers' interests.

"We also know some farmers have talked to their own legal advisers."

Mr Worthington said he was disappointed, sad and angry about the court proceedings.

"These people (EDS and Fish and Game) have nothing better to do. Along with Fish and Game, Federated Farmers are stakeholders in the Manawatu River Accord and I've said how proud I am to work with everyone collaboratively and then for Wellington Fish and Game to go and file court action against Horizons, which is our farmers ..."

And while Tararua mayoral candidate Allan Benbow believes there's a clear link to suggest Horizons Regional Council candidate Andrew Day is an interested party in the Environment Court challenge, Mr Day told Dannevirke News he didn't have an "inkling" he would be linked with the court action.

"The timing isn't what I'd want in the middle of election campaign," he said.

"I wasn't aware they (Fish and Game and EDS) were going to use my information like that.

"I've been served with papers, along with others, including dairy farmers, but I do believe this is absolutely a valid challenge and I support it."

Mr Day, who along with Dannevirke's Lorraine Stephenson, is challenging Tararua's current Horizons councillor John Barrow for the one seat, said he had a lot of sympathy for dairy farmers.

"Most just want to know what's expected of them and get on and do it."

Wellington Fish and Game and EDS initiated their legal action against Horizons over its alleged failure to correctly implement the One Plan.

The two environmental groups have sought a declaration under section 310 of the Resource Management Act on the alleged failure by Horizons to correctly apply the tests for nitrogen leaching within the One Plan when landowners apply for resource consents to discharge nitrogen.

In a statement, Wellington Fish and Game and EDS said they had tried to engage with Horizons for more than a year over the implementation of the plan.