A farmer in the Taranaki region of New Zealand whose highly reckless actions caused devastating ecological and cultural impacts on a waterway, including the death of several fish species, has been fined about $45,000.
Phillip Lewis John Albert Potroz appeared in the Environment Court at New Plymouth on Tuesday, where he was sentenced on three representative charges related to breaches of the Resource Management Act.
He previously pleaded guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of two years jail, or a fine not exceeding $300,000.
The offending related to unconsented earthworks on Potroz’s Stratford farm last year and the subsequent impact it had on a tributary of the Kahouri stream, which included draining the bed of the waterway, damming the water and discharging contaminants, namely sediment and riparian vegetation.
In her ruling Judge Melinda Dickey labelled Potroz’s actions as highly reckless and said the impact had been catastrophic on a 260-metre section of the stream tributary.
This included the death of fish life across several species, she said. Some fish species had previously been classified as at risk or in decline.
Dickey said that full restoration of the waterway would take significant time as well as active management.
She said Potroz had wanted to create a larger pond on his farm, for the purpose of providing water supply to his stock, but in doing so had little regard to what it would mean for the environment.
2020 Stuff Limited