Friday, 27 April 2018 13:02

$55,000 in fines and warning to industry

Written by 

A dairy farming company and an earthworks company have each been convicted and fined for carrying out illegal earthworks in the Mangakaeo Stream, near Ōtorohanga. 

The earthworks were over a kilometre in length and caused significant environmental damage to the stream in breach of the Resource Management Act.

The prosecution was brought by Waikato Regional Council following a site inspection in June 2017.

In passing sentence from the Hamilton District Court this week, Judge Melanie Harland fined Okawa Limited and Greener Earthmoving Limited $31,550 and $24,150 respectively. 

Judge Harland stated that “a further warning to the farming and earthmoving industry should be signalled” and the “need for caution when excavating waterbodies has still not been fully appreciated”.

The council’s investigations manager, Patrick Lynch said: “On this occasion a farm owner has engaged a contractor to carry out maintenance work on his property. There are very clear restrictions around what work can be done in and around fresh water streams in the Waikato region. Both parties should have known better than to carry out these works under the pretence of cleaning farm drains. These are not drains, they are streams. Landowners and earthworks contractors need to appreciate the difference or risk facing similar penalties.

“We urge anyone who has doubts about what can and can’t be done around streams to contact us before they start work. We also offer training opportunities for earthworks contractors.”

Featured

NZEI unhappy with funding cut for teachers

Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.

EU regulations unfairly threaten $200m exports

A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.

Bionic Plus back on vet clinic shelves

A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.

National

Top ag scientist to advise PM

A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.

Machinery & Products

Hose runner saves time and effort

Rakaia-based equipment manufacturer Pluck’s Engineering will soon start production of a new machine designed to simplify the deployment and retrieval…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Science fiction

OPINION: Last week's announcement of Prime Minister’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council hasn’t gone down too well in the…

Bye bye Paris?

OPINION: At its recent annual general meeting, Federated Farmers’ Auckland province called for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter