Prime Minister John Key has told Parliament the Government does not intend to interfere in the consents process shares concerns about proposals for large scale indoor dairy farming in the Mackenzie Basin.
Three companies proposing to house more than 17,000 dairy cows indoors for much of the year are seeking resource consents from Canterbury Regional Council for irrigation rights and effluent disposal.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman asked Mr Key whether the Government would consider calling in the applications as it has the power to do.
Mr Key said the Government shares concerns about the proposals, but did not intend to interfere in the regional council process.
Submissions to the council close on 18 December and Mr Key said a wide range of submissions is expected.
