Benchmarking essential, says Lake Taupo Protection Trust

Farmers in the Taupo catchment interested in selling land or nitrogen
credits to the Lake Taupo Protection Trust need to get benchmarked
before meaningful talks can begin and options can be explored.

That's the message from the trust, which has already been approached by
interested farmers.

The Lake Taupo Protection Trust was established to protect water quality
in Lake Taupo by permanently reducing the amount of nitrogen flowing
into it.

"This is the first environmental project of its type in New Zealand and
it's set to make history," trust chairman John Kneebone said.

The trust has been operational since February and has been preparing to
start implementing new rules designed to protect the lake, which
Environment Waikato introduced in July. The rules are currently being
finalised by the Environment Court and it is hoped this process will be
completed by mid next year.

"In the mean time, we are acutely aware that land sales within the
catchment have stagnated while the legislation is being worked through
and we certainly share the frustrations of not being able to plan ahead
with any certainty," Mr Kneebone said.

"In an attempt to help, we are certainly willing to talk to affected
land owners about the possibility of buying land and/or nitrogen credits
in the near future. But before possible options can be explored,
farmers need to know their nitrogen discharge allowances."

Environment Waikato's new rules mean most farmers in the Taupo catchment
now need a resource consent to continue farming. (Life style block
owners with stock numbers below the specified permitted limit are not
affected.)

Undertaking a benchmarking process to determine how much nitrogen
leached from their property between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2004 is the
first step towards getting the consent.

"At this stage farmers on about 17,000 ha of land either have, or are
close to having, a benchmarked nitrogen discharge allowance (NDA)," Mr
Kneebone said.

"However, the total catchment covers more than 50,000 ha so there's
still a long way to go. If farmers don't have an NDA it will not be
possible for us to determine what nitrogen reductions are possible for a
property and what interests we may have in it."

Land owners who would like to explore their future options with the
trust can contact a trustee representative in confidence through the
trust secretary on 0800 888 380.

The trust is also funding research into new rural activities that cause
lower nitrogen losses from land and help farmers maintain a viable
business. It plans to hold an open day early next year to allow the
public to learn about the latest research.

The Lake Taupo Protection Trust reports to a governance group made up of
representatives from central government, Taupo District Council,
Environment Waikato and Tuwharetoa.