Farmers get nod to use heavy machinery in clean-up

6:45 pm on 26 February 2011

Volunteer farmers will bring heavy equipment into Christchurch to help with the clean-up after getting the okay from the city council.

The council had been concerned the machinery might be too heavy for some of the badly damaged roads.

Federated Farmers says the council has allowed loaders and telehandlers up to two tonnes to join the clean-up operation.

More than 500 farmers were out in the suburbs on Saturday and as many as 1,000 are expected on Sunday.

The federation says machinery should be taken to the A & P Showgrounds from 6.30am on Sunday.