ADVERTISMENT Irrigator sentenced for construction and use of unlawful dams Green Leaf Australia Group Pty Ltd ("Green Leaf") (ACN: 161 543 344) and its director, Mr Xiuming Lin, were each sentenced before the Local Court of New South Wales on 27 February 2025 for 12 offences in breach of the Water Management Act 2000 ("the WM Act") relating to the construction and use of dams without the required approvals at a commercial farm in the Kempsey region. Green Leaf was convicted and fined a total of $224,000. Mr Lin was convicted and fined a total of $71,250. The offenders were also ordered to undertake remediation works. NRAR's investigation and prosecution The sentencing follows an investigation by the Natural Resources Access Regulator ("NRAR"), in which Green Leaf and Mr Lin were each found guilty of: Using four unauthorised dams without a water supply work approval (four offences against s 91B(1) of the WM Act); Constructing unauthorised extensions to two dams without a water supply work approval (two offences against s 91B(1) of the WM Act); and Removing material from a wetland without a controlled activity approval (six offences against s 91E(1) of the WM Act). The offences occurred between 6 October 2016 and 25 February 2021. Some of the offences occurred within the Clybucca Aboriginal Area, and some of the offences caused actual harm to the environment, including listed Endangered Ecological Community freshwater wetlands. Reminder to water users All property owners, occupiers, contractors, and water users should be aware that there are serious consequences for committing offences against the WM Act. The NRAR undertakes auditing and investigations to ensure that activities affecting water sources and involving the extraction of water are authorised and in line with the principles of the WM Act and the welfare of the environment. ADVERTISMENT Irrigator sentenced for construction and use of unlawful dams Green Leaf Australia Group Pty Ltd ( " Green Leaf " ) ( ACN : 161 543 344 ) and its director , Mr Xiuming Lin , were each sentenced before the Local Court of New South Wales on 27 February 2025 for 12 offences in breach of the Water Management Act 2000 ( " the WM Act " ) relating to the construction and use of dams without the required approvals at a commercial farm in the Kempsey region . Green Leaf was convicted and fined a total of $ 224,000 . Mr Lin was convicted and fined a total of $ 71,250 . The offenders were also ordered to undertake remediation works . NRAR's investigation and prosecution The sentencing follows an investigation by the Natural Resources Access Regulator ( " NRAR " ) , in which Green Leaf and Mr Lin were each found guilty of : Using four unauthorised dams without a water supply work approval ( four offences against s 91B ( 1 ) of the WM Act ) ; Constructing unauthorised extensions to two dams without a water supply work approval ( two offences against s 91B ( 1 ) of the WM Act ) ; and Removing material from a wetland without a controlled activity approval ( six offences against s 91E ( 1 ) of the WM Act ) . The offences occurred between 6 October 2016 and 25 February 2021 . Some of the offences occurred within the Clybucca Aboriginal Area , and some of the offences caused actual harm to the environment , including listed Endangered Ecological Community freshwater wetlands . Reminder to water users All property owners , occupiers , contractors , and water users should be aware that there are serious consequences for committing offences against the WM Act . The NRAR undertakes auditing and investigations to ensure that activities affecting water sources and involving the extraction of water are authorised and in line with the principles of the WM Act and the welfare of the environment .