Farmer Told to Stop

A North Otago farmer has been told to stop clearing vegetation from the Waitaki River bed.

Yesterday the Environment Court issued an interim enforcement order on behalf of the regional council, Environment Canterbury.

Enforcement officer Lance Corcoran said at this stage he was unable to give the farmer’s name and inquiries may continue as clearing trees from riverbeds hinders river protection.

The farmer had been asked to stop but continued using diggers to clear the land he hoped to lease off the Department of Conservation.

Mr Corcoran said grazing riverbed land and clearing vegetation both required resource consents.

The farmer had been clearing the land for only a few days and only a few hectares had been covered.

n Herald Staff

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