Fines of more than $48,000 were imposed on North Otago dairy farmers when they appeared in the Oamaru District Court yesterday.
Judge Jon Jackson said pollution by dairy farmers was an endemic problem and they needed to be more careful.
Invernia Holdings Ltd was fined $20,000 on a charge, together with Blake Rowe, of discharging dairy herd effluent on to production land in a manner which contravened the Otago Regional Council's regional water plan.
It was alleged ponding of effluent occurred in October on Wilson Rd. The defendants were ordered to pay court costs of $131, solicitor's fees of $113, disbursement $99.49 and reparation $793.75.
The company was also fined $12,000 and $500 on two further counts in September and October.
Court costs and solicitor's fees were ordered on both charges. Rowe was also fined $50 on the three counts, with court costs and solicitor's fees. The company and Rowe admitted all charges.
Clyde Gordon Douglas and Janice Ellen Douglas both admitted two counts each of a similar charge relating to their property on Kauru Hill Rd in October.
On one they were each fined $5000, with reparation of $440, court costs $131, solicitor's fees $113 and disbursement $30. They were each fined $100 on the other count, with court costs and solicitor's fees.
On a charge of discharging effluent on to land in circumstances which might result in those contaminants entering water in an open roadside drain and coastal water in October on Waianakarua Rd, M.C. Holland Farming Ltd was fined $5000, with reparation $673.75, court costs $131, solicitor's fees $113 and disbursement $181.42.
Michael David Holland and Christine Holland were each fined $500, with court costs and solicitor's fees, on the same charge. All charges were admitted.
Otago Regional Council resource management director Dr Selva Selvarajah, when contacted after the hearing, said that the issue of non-compliance by dairy farmers had been ongoing for several years.
The council had tried, through infringement notices and other education-type means, to improve matters.
Last season, the council felt it was not making any huge improvement and it was decided to take a "hard stance'' and prosecute.
As a result, 28 dairy farmers were prosecuted and infringement notices were served on other farmers for alleged minor infringements.
Summonses had been issued for 14 cases to be heard in Balclutha and further cases are also due to be heard in Dunedin, he said.
It was hoped farmers would now approach the effluent management issue seriously. If they had correct contingency systems, including good storage systems to get through wet weather conditions, 100% compliance could be achieved, Dr Selvarajah said.
He warned there would be more prosecutions if farmers did not comply.
North Otago Federated Farmers president Robert Borst said there was an obligation on farmers to ensure their practices were compliant with rules and regulations.
"We need, as farmers, to sharpen our act,'' he said.
Mr Borst said his biggest concern was whether the council had been fair in the way it had assessed non-compliance. He understood several farmers had had difficulty coping with adverse weather conditions.
