Two Bay of Plenty farmers who dumped effluent into beachside waterways have been fined a total of more than $50,000.
Paul Warneford of Warneford Farms Ltd faced a charge after allowing an irrigation machine to discharge dairy effluent into a water way leading to the Nukuhou River, which flows into the Ohiwa Harbour.
Warneford was convicted and fined $26,000 by Judge Jeff Smith.
Maketu farmer Allan Titchmarsh was fined $24,500 following a charge of breaching an abatement noticed issued to him from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and ordered to create an effluent management plan for his farm by January 31, 2012.
Titchmarsh has been at the centre of several offences relating to inappropriate disposal of effluent and was formally warned his failing to act on orders from previous court appearances was a contempt of court.
