The companies behind dumped plans to develop intensive indoor dairy farms in South Canterbury’s MacKenzie basin are on the offensive following claims the proposals are being revisited.

In March this year Southdown Holdings, Williamson Holdings and Five Rivers dropped plans to develop the indoor farms after lodging resource consent applications for effluent discharge with Environment Canterbury (Ecan).

An anti-business “innovation tax” has forced the companies behind plans to develop indoor dairy farms in South Canterbury’s MacKenzie basin to dump its idea – for now.

Southdown Holdings, Williamson Holdings and Five Rivers lodged resource consent applications for effluent with Environment Canterbury (Ecan) last year.

The companies wanted to house up to18,000 cows in cubical stables 24 hours a day for eight months of the year, spanning winter, and 12 hours a day for four months during summer.