Regional Council Policy and Regulation Group manager Katrina Brunton says the prosecutions send a strong message about the Regional Council's stance on illegal burning.
"Our community shouldn't be affected by illegal burning, and we are not tolerating it," she says. "We're disappointed that we are still having to prosecute for illegal burning. The rules are very clear, and we're reminding people to follow them all year round."
Council officers went to the Pakowhai Rd after a complaint of toxic black smoke. A summary said that although McIlroy initially denied any connection to the fire, he later admitted lighting the fire and said burning at the property had been a regular occurrence during the time he had lived there.
He had said rubbish was regularly brought to the property by other people and placed in the pit for burning. McIlroy had said he did not approve of the practice, but would burn the rubbish to avoid rodents and other problems.
The Longlands Rd fire included prohibited items such as plastic, a motor mower, spouting, a mattress, whiteware, a car seat and engine oil, the Council said.
Director Laurie Horsfall had said the fire was for waste eggs and chicken cartons, but he made the mistake of lighting the fire on construction spouting previously damaged in a house fire and which he hadn't appreciate would burn a second time around.
