“Farmers care about climate change and are making efforts to offset their emissions.”
A lot of forestry on-farm was unable to be seen by the public from roads and cycle trails in South Otago.
“You can see the big corporates’ forests, but the smaller scale growing is less evident, and we wanted to highlight that.”
An example of this was Hewitt’s farm, which included about 180 hectares of exotic forestry and 50ha of native forest protected by a QEII National Trust covenant.
“He has planted the poorer parts of his farm and not reduced his stocking at all. He is doing all the right things.”
Clutha District Council had asked Hewitt to take the sign down, Cullen said.
“We are still working through that process with the council; they are saying we need a consent.”
The association had “pointed out” other groups had similar signs, such as the Pomahaka Water Care Group.
“Why the council [is] picking on us, I don’t know.”
The association would keep the sign standing until the issue was resolved, he said.
If the council gave permission, the association had funding to install more signs, he said.
Council chief executive Steve Hill said the sign did not comply with permitted activity standards as per the council’s District Plan.
A letter had been sent explaining that and the way forward.
“A letter has been sent to a couple of other landowners with illegal signs.
“We are not targeting anyone in particular.
“The public or our monitoring officers point signs out, which are then checked and the matter is followed up accordingly.”
People with non-compliant signs could apply for the appropriate resource consent to the council and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency, Hill said.
“The rules for signs in the district are to ensure road environments are kept safe for all.”
