TAUPO - A farmer is furious that his dream lakeside farm at Taupo could be taken off him and converted to forestry.
Roger Garland is one of more than 100 farmers waiting to hear what action Environment Waikato will take in a bid to halt pollution of the lake.
Farmers are worried that possible restrictions on farming and development will hurt property valuations.
The regional council says the worst scenario is that it could spend millions buying farms in the lake's catchment to protect it from nitrate runoff.
However, Mr Garland said farmers were furious because the suggested options had not been discussed with them.
"We have been told there will be some restrictions but we don't know what."
Mr Garland had since contacted the council's policy manager, Lex Rennes.
"I have been told ... that it's very unlikely they will turn farms in the area into forestry."
Farmers were incensed when they heard of the possibility, he said.
"It's a total slam in the face."
The council had swung full circle, said Mr Garland.
"It's an absolute kick in the guts to think your farm could be ripped off you.
"You can't replace farms like this. The land has huge potential and it's irreplaceable.
"I don't want compensation. I just want my farm for the reason I bought it."
He was concerned that if more restrictions were enforced then farming in the area would not be viable.
Gifford McFadden, the Rotorua-Taupo Federated Farmers vice-president, estimated it would cost the council more than $300 million to buy all the farms in the lake catchment area.
"The question is, where do they think they will get the money from?"
The council says pollution comes from urine runoff after stock have eaten nitrogen-rich grass.
Nitrogen feeds weeds, which makes the water cloudy.
Solutions include planting trees to absorb runoff, creating holding ponds to filter effluent, and removing stock from farms during wet winters.
A discussion paper listing the council's suggested solutions is due this month.
- NZPA
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