15 Oct 2013

Farmer fined $47,000 for effluent discharges

8:00 am on 15 October 2013

A Waikato dairy farmer has been fined $47,000 for discharging effluent into the environment.

Christopher Empson received 10 convictions when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court for effluent breaches at three farms he owns near Te Awamutu.

Waikato Regional Council investigations manager Patrick Lynch says Empson has not faced the reality of modern farming and is unwilling to change the impact of his farming operations on the environment until there is court intervention.

Mr Lynch says he's aware of several other farming operations in the region that are also likely to face charges in the near future, because of their poor environmental practices.