KEY POINTS:
Farmers' leaders and Fonterra have welcomed a court decision to impose larger fines for dairy shed effluent offences.
Environment Court Judge Jeff Smith last week lifted the starting point for fines for dairy shed effluent offences from about $4000 to more than $10,000.
Judge Smith made the ruling in Tauranga while sentencing a Maketu dairy farmer, and his company, for discharges of dairy effluent entering a tributary of the Little Waihi estuary.
Environment Bay of Plenty took the company and farmer to court for two offences relating to discharging dairy shed effluent over land and into a drain.
Judge Smith said it was clear the pollution was not just a one-off but had happened before, and over a period of time.
He said the change in fine levels had been signalled nationally for the past two years, including in an earlier Bay of Plenty prosecution.
"I am in no doubt that the farming community as a whole should be aware that these matters will be treated by the court with significantly greater seriousness than in the past and accordingly that fines have increased," he said
Judge Smith fined the farmer and farm company a total of $9000 plus costs.
"When discharges like this happen, it's serious -- and we need strong deterrents," Environment Bay of Plenty's regulation, monitoring and investigation committee chairman Jim Pringle said.
He said most farmers were very aware of the environment and worked hard to make sure they looked after it. "A few bad apples ruin it for everyone."
Mr Pringle said Environment Bay of Plenty worked alongside farmers with the focus on education.
The most recent dairy farm survey had shown a further improvement in compliance rates for the disposal of dairy shed effluent, he said.
"Nearly all of the farms visited had done well, which is a very good result," Mr Pringle said.
Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers president Derek Spratt supported the fine increase.
"A few farmers are not pulling their weight. Hopefully the level of fines now being implemented will impress on them that it is not worth failing to comply with their dairy discharge consent."
Fonterra's director of milk supply Barry Harris said the company urged its farmers to ensure compliance with current regulations, and supported measures that would prevent breaches of dairy effluent rules.
"We support steps being taken to ensure that those who are letting the industry down are held responsible for their actions."
- NZPA
