The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined Allied Farms Pty Ltd $15,000 for an alleged breach of its Environment Protection Licence by holding more cattle at its feedlot than permitted.
Allied Farms Pty Ltd holds an Environment Protection Licence for a cattle feedlot at Garah, north of Moree, to manage a maximum of 5,000 head of cattle at any one time.
The feedlot allegedly breached its licence on various dates between April and August 2019, by having more than 5,000 head of cattle within the feedlot yards with the highest exceedance being 5,521 cattle on 13 August 2019.
EPA Regional Director North Adam Gilligan said the fine was a reminder about the importance of considering and protecting the surrounding environment and neighbours.
"Licence limits are in place to manage the potential impacts that a property or industry may have on their neighbours, the community and their nearby environment.
"We expect all licensees to follow the requirements of their specific licenses and breaches are taken seriously by the EPA. Ignoring those limits and operating without consideration of potential impacts is not an acceptable practice."
Penalty notices are one of several tools the EPA can use to achieve environmental compliance including formal warnings, official cautions, licence conditions, notices and directions and prosecutions.