In this edition we look at:
- Big fines now also for "little" offences: a
brief look at how fines for minor effluent discharges are on the
increase.
- Effluent discharge fines and low payouts: we consider
the level of effluent fines in view of the current low dairy
payouts.
- Can dairy cows discharge effluent?: a heads-up of
Forest & Bird's High Court declaration application that
could see resource consents needed for all dairy
farming.
Big fines now also for "little"
offences
Small, one-off dairy effluent discharges do not tend to grab
headlines in the same way as the fines of $100,000 to $200,000
fines imposed for serious cases of multiple and on-going dairy
effluent discharges. Farmers should take note that higher fines are
no longer just for only the really bad, serious or repeat
offenders; good operators who have a momentary lapse now also face
significant penalties.
