Friday 26 January 2024
Our annual series of farmer workshops for intensive winter grazing (IWG) consenting gets underway next month, with 14 workshops scheduled across 12 locations over six weeks.
The workshops begin at Tarras and Ōmakau on 15 February, followed by workshops through to late-March at Weston, Palmerston, Lawrence, Millers Flat, Owaka, Clinton, Milton, Tapanui, Middlemarch and Ranfurly.
The previous two years of workshops proved successful and were well attended across the region, says ORC’s Acting Manager Consents Alexandra King.
“The focus of these hands-on workshop sessions is for the ORC team to help people with advice on the IWG consent process, grazing plans and management practices,” she says.
Ms King says if farmers are unsure of how to put an IWG resource consent together, they can attend a workshop and should be able to complete their consent applications “on the spot”.
She highlighted the workshops were not only for new consent applications, but also for farmers to update their existing consent management plans - which is a condition of their existing consents.
IWG applications should be lodged with ORC by mid-April, to ensure consents are in place by 1 May this year.
Otago had one of the highest rates of IWG resource consents issued last year, she says.
Ms King says while farmers continue to be proactive, ORC wants to remind them get their consent applications in or think about how they will be a permitted activity.
She says farmers should bring their whole farm map and individual paddock maps of forage crops for 2024 to the workshops.
It would be useful, but not strictly required, if farmers could also bring any relevant Farm Plans, Grazing Management Plans and information on soils and slopes, such as that from consultants Beef+Lamb, DairyNZ and NZ Farm Assurance Programmes.
The IWG consents applied for can be for up to the next three to five years, but they must be in place by 1 May this year.
“We encourage people to come along to the workshops or contact us if they have any questions about being a permitted activity or help with the consents process,” she says.
Farmers must register to attend any of the workshops, so the event can be staffed accordingly, with up to 20 places available at each event.
“While the target audience to attend is primarily farmers, rural professionals and consultants may also see value in attending these workshops,” Ms King says.
The new regulations around IWG started on 1 November 2022 and applications for winter 2024, and beyond, should be in by mid-April 2024 to ensure consents are in place by 1 May 2024.
To register for your preferred workshop, go to: www.orc.govt.nz/iwgregistration
Tarras - Thursday 15 February
Venue: Tarras War Memorial Community Centre, 1 workshop, 10am-12pm
Ōmakau - Thursday 15 February
Venue: Omakau Golf Club, 1 workshop, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Weston - Wednesday 21 February
Venue: Weston Hall, 1 workshop, 10am – 12pm
Palmerston – Wednesday, 21 February
Venue: Palmerston Community Centre, 1 workshop, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Lawrence – Thursday 29 February
Venue: Simpson Park Hall (Lawrence), 1 workshop, 10am – 12pm
Millers Flat - Thursday 29 February
Venue: Millers Flat Hall, 1 workshop, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Ōwaka - Tuesday 5 March
Venue: Owaka Community Centre, 1 workshop, 10am – 12pm
Clinton - Tuesday 5 March
Venue: Clinton Community Centre, 1 workshop, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Milton - Tuesday 12 March
Venue: Tokomairiro Rugby Club, 2 workshops, 10am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm
Tapanui - Tuesday 19 March
Venue: West Otago Community Centre, 2 workshops, 10am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm
Middlemarch - Wednesday 27 March
Venue: Strath Taieri Community Centre (Middlemarch), 1 workshop, 10am – 12pm
Ranfurly - Wednesday 27 March
Venue: Maniototo Golf Club (Ranfurly), 1 workshop, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
What farmers need to bring;
Other resources
To learn more and register, go to www.orc.govt.nz/iwgworkshops
For further information:
Email: Public.enquiries@orc.govt.nz or catchments@orc.govt.nz
Call: 0800 474 082