Farm effluent discharge leads to $89,000 in fines
Three Bay of Plenty dairy farmers were sentenced in the Tauranga District Court last week for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent after separate prosecutions brought against them by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
In the first case, Mark Stuart Dibley was fined $32,500 plus costs for allowing effluent waste to flow over land at three different locations on his farm at Oturoa Road, Rotorua.
In the second sentencing, Bayfield Farms Ltd admitted two charges of unlawful discharge of dairy effluent, which had flowed into the Waitahanui Stream at Ōtamarākau, near Te Puke. Bayfield Farms was fined $35,000 plus costs.
In the third sentencing, Noema Archie Watene admitted one charge of unlawful discharge of dairy effluent, which had flowed into a farm drain and then to Totara Stream at a farm at Rūātoki Valley Rd, Rūātoki. Mr Watene was fined $21,440 plus costs.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Pollution Prevention Manager Nick Zaman said the sentencing of these three farmers highlighted the need for dairy farmers to be proactive in managing effluent, rather than attempting to get by with systems that are barely able to cope with farm effluent at the best of times.
The council encourages farmers to attend effluent management courses and to make use of resource provided by organisations such as Fonterra, Dairy NZ, and the Regional Council. We hope these sentences serve as a deterrent to others, he said.
For information and advice on farm management visit www.dairynz.co.nz or call a Bay of Plenty Regional Council Pollution Prevention Officer on 0800 884 880.