Victoria
Mid North Coast blueberry farmers fined for illegal dam
Two Mid North Coast blueberry farmers have been fined after constructing an illegal dam but they will not have to demolish it.
Two blueberry farmers on the New South Wales Mid North Coast have been fined $100,000 by the Land and Environment Court after constructing an illegal dam on their property.
According to a wire report, the total penalties associated with the unlawful development have reached $130,000. Despite the significant financial penalties handed down for the unauthorised work, the court ruled that the landholders will not be required to demolish the newly built structure.
The prosecution centred on the construction of the water storage facility without the necessary planning approvals and environmental licences. Such water structures are heavily regulated in regional New South Wales to manage scarce water resources and to protect local ecosystems from unregulated runoff and interception.
While the court penalised the farmers for bypassing the state's planning system, the decision to allow the dam to remain standing represents a reprieve from the high costs of decommissioning. The exact reasons why the court spared the dam from demolition, and the specific ecological impacts of the structure on the local catchment, have not been detailed.
The Mid North Coast region has seen rapid growth in the horticulture sector, particularly in blueberry cultivation. This growth has previously drawn community scrutiny over water use, land clearing, and compliance with local planning laws. This ruling underscores the strict legal risks for agricultural producers who undertake major water infrastructure works without obtaining the appropriate regulatory consents first.
Details regarding the identities of the two farmers and the precise location of the blueberry farm have not been made public. It also remains unconfirmed whether the landholders will face any ongoing monitoring or be required to undertake remedial environmental works around the site.
What to watch next is whether this ruling prompts regulatory authorities to increase inspections of private water infrastructure across other horticultural developments in the state.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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