23 Jun 2011

Tractor protest fails to stop rates rise

3:14 pm on 23 June 2011

Otago Regional Council has approved large rates rises for some dairy farmers despite their last-ditch tractor protests.

A group of farmers from low-lying farms in the Taieri Plains drove 10 tractors to the council's headquarters on Tuesday to try to stop the changes, but the council voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to adopt the change.

Low-lying farms benefiting from flood protection schemes will pay up to 50% more, costing them several thousand dollars each.

A spokesperson for the protesting farmers, Ad Bekkers, says they are very disappointed and will meet next week to decide whether they should keep fighting the increase.

He says user-pays is not the right approach. He says it will set one farmer against another and the changes must be delayed until 2012 while there is proper consultation.

The council's chair, Stephen Woodhead, says the new Taieri district rating system is fairer on all ratepayers.

At the meeting, the regional council also confirmed plans for major flood protection works on the city's main stream, Water of Leith.