$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement
A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.
A Waikato farmer has been fined $57,375 for the unlawful discharge of effluent to a local stream from a storage pond.
Terry Hazlehurst, of Morrinsville, pleaded guilty in the Hamilton District Court on February 4.
On 8 June 2018, Waikato Regional Council carried out a proactive inspection at Hazlehurst’s farm and found a pipe from an effluent storage pond was actively discharging effluent into a waterway that leads to Tauhei Stream.
An investigation by the council discovered that the discharge had been occurring intermittently for the previous 43 months.
At sentencing, Judge Melinda Dickey expressed “serious concern” over the length of time over which the discharge occurred.
Dickey described the offending as “deliberate” and demonstrating a “disregard for the effects of the effluent discharge on the environment”.
An enforcement order was also issued aimed at immediate improvements to the effluent ponds.
Council investigations manager Patrick Lynch said the case was of particular concern.
“This kind of behaviour needs to change. Obviously it has a detrimental effect on the environment, but it also undermines all of the good work being done by the farming industry and wider community to improve water quality.”
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
OPINION: The war of words between Southland farmers and Environment Southland over winter grazing inspections reflects a deep lack of trust…
OPINION: Milking It understands a formal disciplinary process is being conducted by Victoria University of Wellington on what one of…