Coromandel man fined $30k for illegal mooring
A Coromandel man has been fined for illegally creating his own mooring and culvert in a wetland area in order protect his nearby farm.
David Peter Savage has also been prohibited by a court order from carrying out any further illegal works in the coastal marine area that borders his property at Coroglen, south of Whitianga. The Coroglen local was convicted and fined $30,000 for the four breaches of the Resource Management Act by Judge Kirkpatrick in the Tauranga District Court last week. The breaches involved the unlawful installations of a mooring and a culvert, as well as excavations of the Waiwawa Wetland and coastal marine area.
Waikato Regional Council decided to prosecute after a local resident concerned about the wetland reclamation and drainage activities at the southern end of the Whitianga Estuary brought it to attention.
The council responded to the complaint and began a formal investigation. Council found that Savage had completed unlawful works to protect his adjacent dairy farm as he considered it was vulnerable to flooding and the incursion of salt water, council’s investigations and incident response manager Patrick Lynch said.
‘‘The saline wetland is nationally significant. The coastal marine area is protected to preserve the natural character of our coastal environment,’’ he said. ‘‘We are disappointed with the actions of Mr Savage and trust this fine will remind all coastal landowners that they need to approach the regional council so they are properly informed before carrying out any works.’’