NRAR starts prosecution over alleged offences near wetland

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has started a prosecution against an irrigator from the Kempsey region after a series of alleged offences near nationally signifcant wetlands.

NRAR brought the case to Kempsey Local Court for offences including two counts of building dams without approval, four counts of using dams without approval and six counts related to illegal excavations on waterfront land.

The alleged illegal dams have the combined capacity to hold approximately 165 megalitres of water - enough to fll 66 Olympic swimming pools.

The offences are alleged to have occurred within the Kempsey region between December 2017 and February 2021, including a period of very dry conditions.

The Clybucca estuary, including Aboriginal reserves, are near the property and make up a large network of reserved land containing nationally signifcant wetlands and Aboriginal and consumption globally.”

Animal Frontiers is the offcial journal of four professional animal science societies including the American Society of Animal Science, the Canadian Society of Animal Science, the European Federation of Animal Science, and the American Meat Science Association.

“We are also calling for more scientists from all disciplines to engage with our industry so we can continue a healthy, balanced discussion on the future of animal agriculture globally – including nutritional health, the environment, the ethical consumption of meat, and global food security.”

The papers published today in Animal Frontiers formed the basis for discussion at a Dublin-based event held last year, the International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat, and for a Sydneybased event in March, The Good Meat Summit, hosted by AMPC and MLA.

Dr Polkinghorne said the Animal Frontiers papers also addressed the anti-meat rhetoric evident in some developed countries, including Australia.

“Our work will go a long way to communicating the importance of animal agriculture for our society, including red meat and livestock production here and around the world,” he said.

Ms Stockley said irrigated agriculture often included the largest water users within a particular region and NRAR would continue to focus on compliance in this area.

“We are particularly focusing on the Hunter, Murrumbidgee, Murray and Far North Coast areas of the state,” she said.

Cultural Heritage

The matter came to the attention of NRAR after an anonymous tip off from a member of the public.

NRAR Director Investigation and Enforcement, Lisa Stockley, said the illegal building and use of dams for commercial irrigated agriculture could negatively impact the community.

“On top of that, the carrying out of illegal excavations (controlled activities) on waterfront land at this location also had the potential to cause environmental harm to wetlands near the property,” she said.

“Healthy watercourses and waterfront land are vital to the community and environment, so landholders need to get approval before they do any work.

“The rules are there to prevent activities that could alter water fow or quality, destabilise beds or banks of waterways, cause erosion, disturb wildlife habitats and other damage.”

About 60 per cent of water taken in NSW is used by the irrigated agriculture industry. The irrigated agriculture water entitlement in NSW is worth about $29 billion and produces around $3-4 billion annually.

The case was listed for mention in Kempsey Local Court on April 6, no plea was entered, and the matter has been adjourned to June 1, 2023.