Striking the environmental balance

A total of $1.189 million in fines was imposed against those polluters by specialist judges who heard cases across the Waikato region.

“Prosecutions for the really serious environmental incidents are important, but only form part of our overall compliance strategy,” says the council’s regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch.

“A large part of daily business for our council is to enable the community and businesses to utilise and interact with natural and physical resources – like using water from the Waikato River. But using those resources comes with obligations.

“There is a balance to be struck and we have to ensure people also operate within environmental limits,” Lynch says.

He says there are currently more than 11,400 resource consents across about 5,000 sites in the Waikato, with 62% of the monitored consents compliant in 2020.

“Non-compliance ranges in its seriousness, and for those found to be non-compliant a variety of actions will have been taken, including education. Sometimes, more than one action will be taken if initial directions are not heeded.”

Environmental compliance, enforcement and monitoring data for the last financial year also shows:

• 134 abatement notices, 71 infringement notices, 6 enforcement orders and 305 formal warnings were issued;
• 820 of the region’s 4100-plus dairy farms were physically inspected; and
• More than 1,700 environmental incidents were reported by the public – all were assessed and responded to, with 570 physically attended by council staff.

“It is essential the community can rely on us to respond and take responsibility as the environmental and maritime safety regulator, and to encourage positive behaviour change through various enforcement tools if needed.”

In addition, regional council maritime officers interacted with more than 2,500 people on coastal and inland waterways over the 2019/20 reporting period, with 86 infringements, 34 formal warnings and 72 verbal warnings.

Kathy White, Taupō constituency councillor and Environmental Performance Committee chair, says she is heartened by the results, but concerned about the seemingly slow rate of behaviour change in some sectors.

“Council staff are working really hard and, as their governors, we continue to support them in their compliance, monitoring and enforcement work. We have a fantastic region, and we need to enjoy it sustainably and safely. But clearly there is still a way to go for some in our community to realise this.”