Horizons prosecutes again
HORIZONS Regional Council is standing by its promise to get tough on people who damage the environment and says it wants to send a clear message that offences will not be tolerated.
The regional council added another successful prosecution to its list with yesterday’s guilty plea from William Jamieson of Shetland Farms Limited (SFL) in Marton district court on a charge of illegal discharge of dairy effluent onto a neighbouring property.
Mr Jamieson was subsequently convicted and fined $30,000 plus $2,500 in costs.
“This decision sends a strong message that the courts consider this matter serious and people need to be fully aware of their obligations under the Resource Management Act, especially when operating systems fail and no alternative measures are in place,” says Horizons compliance manager Alison Russell.
“We view breaches of the RMA, and in this case the unauthorised discharge of contaminants seriously. In fact under the RMA these are criminal offences.”
“The cost and time spent on the prosecution was worthwhile in terms of a specific and a general deterrence to prevent others from considering unauthorised discharges to the environment. We will continue to investigate and respond to this type of deliberate offending.”
Horizons has, in the past, been criticised for not being tough enough on infringers but several high profile prosecutions are demonstrating that is not the case says chief executive Michael McCartney.
“This prosecution is in line with Horizons policy and we intend to take every breach of consents and the RMA seriously.”
The decision is currently subject to appeal period.
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