NOIC has a strong commitment to environmental management which is implemented at a scheme level through an Environmental Management System based around individual farm environment plans and the independent auditing of these. NOIC is also committed to funding our partner North Otago Sustainable Land Management whose purpose is to educate, assist and encourage the North Otago farming community to farm in conjunction with sustainable land management objectives and practices.
NOIC’s Environmental Management System is a framework that encompasses all our processes related to:
The NOIC Environmental Team is responsible for implementing, managing, and monitoring NOIC’s resource consents to ensure NOIC maintains the ability to deliver water to its shareholders. NOIC has resource consents to take and use water from the Waitaki River for the purpose of irrigation. These resource consents require shareholders to ensure that:
NOIC’s resource consent to use water for irrigation requires all irrigators to have a Farm Environment Plan (FEP). Those with 11 shares or more are required to have their FEP independently audited on a regular basis.
FEPs are unique to each property and reflect the local climate and soils, the type of farming operation, and the goals and aspirations of the land user. It is a tool that can help farmers to recognise on-farm environmental risks and set out a programme to manage those risks. It is a valuable action plan for future activities, and a record of the changes you have made. It can assist with understanding and demonstrating environmental compliance, record progress towards achieving good management, and demonstrate that you are working towards balancing farm productivity while reducing your farm’s environmental footprint.
NOIC’s environmental team is available to support shareholders in the preparation of their FEP – please contact Mike Searle msearle@noic.co.nz or 0272672451
