Three Bay of Plenty dairy farms and Fonterra fined for polluting
For immediate release: Monday 27 September

Bay of Plenty dairy farmers were reminded of the serious penalties for polluting after three farmers were this month sentenced for causing various degrees of contamination to waterways last year.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council also successfully prosecuted Fonterra for a chemical spill, which ended up in a storm water drain, at its Edgecumbe milk processing factory.

In the District Court in Tauranga, Langford Holdings Limited, of Waihi Beach, was convicted for discharging dairy effluent onto land and was fined $13,000.

In another case brought by the Regional Council, Edward Tye, of Katikati, was also convicted for discharging dairy effluent onto land and was fined $26,500.

Kildarragh Farms Limited, in Rotoura, was convicted for discharging dairy effluent onto land and was fined $12,000.

Fonterra was convicted for allowing contaminants (nitric acid and caustic cleaning agent) to discharge to a storm water drain and into a water course and was fined $24,000.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Group Manager Water Management Eddie Grogan said this was a timely reminder to holders of resource consents that they must be compliant all the time.

“All three dairy cases were a result of poor management of effluent systems, including ponds and irrigators. Farmers need to ensure maintenance of their equipment is undertaken regularly, and that staff are fully trained in the operation of the equipment,” he said.

“As a consequence of the problems experienced last season we have been working closely with Federated Farmers, Fonterra and DairyNZ to collaboratively develop some great tools to help farmers to achieve and maintain compliance,” he said. “Fonterra and DairyNZ have also taken the initiative to establish support people on the ground to advise farmers about systems design and management, which we encourage people to use,” Mr Grogan said.

For further advice or information on managing farm compliance systems, please contact the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Pollution Prevention team on 0800 368 267.

ENDS

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