The operators of four Bay of Plenty dairy farms are the recipients of a combined fines total worth more than $118,000 for polluting waterways.

The operators, two businesses and three individuals, were sentenced in the Environment Court in Tauranga after being found guilty of improperly discharging effluent.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council water management group manager Eddie Grogan says these prosecutions show some farmers are still not carrying out necessary checks.

'All four dairy cases were a result of poor management of effluent systems, including ponds and irrigators,” says Eddie.

The offences were made under the Resource Management Act and the fines were just one part of the penalty.

'The real significant shift in direction from the court was the imposing of enforcement orders requiring each farm to develop contingency plans for effluent disposal.”

These plans must address issues including equipment maintenance, staff training, monitoring of effluent systems and ensuring storage is appropriate.

'We are pleased that these cases all received enforcement orders and significant fines and hope that this will be a deterrent to others.

'This is a timely reminder for farmers to check they have all the correct systems in place to manage effluent even on the busiest, wettest days.”

The regional council works alongside a number of stakeholders to assist farmers to remain compliant 365 days a year and several free tools are available.

'A Massey pond storage calculator is available to farmers to help calculate risk, ensuring that effluent systems have the right storage capacity so that effluent irrigation only occurs during the right soil moisture conditions.

'This ensures that nutrients are utilised effectively, which is good for the environment and farmers productivity.

'In many cases, however, the right systems may be in place, but it all comes down to farm operators.

'Farmers need to ensure maintenance of their equipment is undertaken regularly and that staff are fully trained in the operation of the equipment.”

Eddie says that it is crucial new farm workers are aware of all the requirements to remain compliant.

'A simple checklist has been created as a guide to ensure new workers go through the right induction and farmers can be confident they will not risk compliance.”

The farmers and companies prosecuted were:

Kaituna Pastoral Farms Ltd, Te Puke: $40,500 plus costs for discharging dairy effluent from an irrigator where it could enter a waterway.

Anthony Johannes De Groot, Waimana: $20,000 plus costs for discharging dairy effluent from an irrigator where it could enter a waterway.

Michael Johannes De Groot, Waimana: 10,000 plus costs for discharging dairy effluent from an irrigator where it could enter a waterway.

Riverlock Farms Ltd, Opotiki: $40,000 plus costs for discharging dairy effluent from an effluent pond and discharging from an irrigator where it could enter a waterway.

Joseph Paratene Walker, Opotiki: $8,000 plus costs for discharging dairy effluent from a pond where it could enter a waterway, and twice contravening an abatement notice.