Burn-off by-laws ‘out of date’

Press, 3 February 1981, Page 3

Burn-off by-laws ‘out of date’

The North Canterbury Catchment Board has been advised by solicitors to drop [four prosecutions for i breaches of its burning-ofi [by-laws, because the laws ' are outdated and contain too imany loopholes. . I The prosecutions, 'lodged [at the. District Court at Ra- ; ngiora .yesterday, relate to fires last, year at Mount Thomas, Hanmer Springs Loburn. and Culverden. The board alleges that three of the fires were unauthorised and one burn-off exceeded the area specified in the burning permit. An estimated 900 ha of beech forest was destroyed at the Mount Thomas State Forest in early October, a blaze described as the biggest. bush fire in Canterbury for many years. But the board’s chief soil conservator (Mr R. W. Cathcart) has been told by solicitors that the prosecutions could not stand up in court because of the outdated wording of the board’s bylaws. Mr Cathcart yesterday told a meeting of the board’s soil conservation committee that only minor amendments had been made to the burning by-laws since their introduction in 1947. Even if ’ the prosecutions were successful, the max-

) imum penalty for a breach! •of the present by-laws was; isloo. Mr Cathcart said he [understood the cost of fightiing the Mount Thomas fire [exceeded $20,000. This figure I did not include the damage to the forest and the longterm effects the fire would have on the productivity of' the land. The board is reviewing its policy on burning, and staff are preparing a report for consideration by the board at a meeting next month. Mr Cathcart said after yesterday’s meeting that he hoped the board “will get the matter tidied up” before the burning season begins this winter. The burning by-law was originally introduced by the board to prevent indiscriminate burning of high country vegetation. “Unfortunately, there are still a few people who go ahead and burn vegetation without a permit,” Mr Cathcart said. Such people were probably unaware of the damage uncontrolled burning could do to vegetation, and the long-term effects on soil quality and productivity. Mr Cathcart said that the board had a responsibility to educate farmers to use burning as part of a positive development programme.