Bay of Plenty forestry operation labelled 'extremely reckless'BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL Forest owner Whitikau Holdings Ltd was fined $57,000 after pleading guilty to five charges of contravening the Resource Management Act. A forestry owner has been fined more than $50,000 after its harvesting operation south-east of Ōpōtiki damaged two stream beds. BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL Forest owner Whitikau Holdings Ltd and harvesting contractors Paturakau Ltd and Neville Walker were fined over a harvesting operation south-east of Ōpōtiki. Harland said Whitikau and its contractors caused large amounts of sediment and bark to be discharged into waterways, including the Whitikau Stream. Abatement notices were issued but follow-up inspections in late 2016 found the harvesting operation was still non-compliant.

Source: Stuff April 23, 2018 04:18 UTC