The Bay of Plenty Regional Council says two recent court cases involving farms in the Lake Rotorua catchment show the effect of stiffer penalties for the illegal discharge of effluent.
Fantastic Farms Ltd was fined $40,000 after being convicted of four charges relating to incidents in which dairy effluent discharged onto land entered a watercourse.
Wildhaber Wench and Co appeared on two similar charges, but because its offences occurred at a time when the previous penalty regime applied, it was fined just $16,800.
Bill Bayfield, who heads the regional council, says both cases highlight the need for famers to manage their effluent systems.
