NSW irrigator hit with $300k fine

A NSW irrigation company has been fined a whopping $300,000 in court for illegally building dams.

NSW NRAR investigation and enforcement director Lisa Stockley welcomed the court’s decision and said it was important water users considered the impact of their actions.

A NSW local magistrate has fined a Kempsey irrigation company and one of its directors almost $300,000 for constructing and using dams without approval, from 2016 to 2021.

NSW Natural Resource Access Regulator charged Green Leaf Australia Group and its director Xiuming Lin with four counts of using dams without approval, two charges for extending dams without approval, and six charges for constructing dams within a wetland.

The court found that some of the offences involved removing vegetation and clearing land which harmed the environment, including nationally significant freshwater wetlands.

In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Scott Nash said the decision by the company and director to proceed with the works without approval was “reckless and motivated for financial gain.”

NRAR investigations and enforcement director Lisa Stockley welcomed the court’s decision and said it was important for water users to consider the impact of their actions.

“Healthy waterways including waterfront land are vital to the health of the local community and environment, which is why landholders need to get approval before they do any work,” Ms Stockley said.

“The rules around constructing dams and carrying out works on waterfront land exist to protect the quality of delicate ecosystems and ensure water is taken lawfully.”