30 Nov 2012

Southland farmer fined

6:29 am on 30 November 2012

A Southland farmer fined for pollution has been warned to pick up his game if he wants to continue farming next to the Waituna lagoon.

Kevin Belling was convicted in Invercargill District Court and fined $35,000 for discharging contaminants on to land where they could have entered water.

Soiuthland Regional Council inspectors found decomposing carcasses in two holes close to a wetland beside his farm.

Environment Court Judge Jeff Smith also granted an enforcement order that requires the farmer to produce a comprehensive environmental plan within two months.