Waiheke vineyard company Cable Bay Wine found guilty of breaching noise limits, could be fined up to $600,000

Sun Sep 15 17:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Waiheke Island Vineyard Faces $600,000 Fine for Noise Pollution

**Auckland, New Zealand** – Cable Bay Wine, a luxury vineyard on Waiheke Island, has been found guilty of breaching noise limits and faces a potential fine of up to $600,000. The ruling comes after a lengthy legal battle spanning over six years, involving multiple trials, appeals, and accusations of trespassing.

The charges stemmed from noise measurements taken in 2018, which exceeded the 45-decibel limit allowed for the vineyard’s restaurant and bar. Despite initial acquittals due to procedural issues and missing evidence, the Auckland Council persisted, successfully arguing that the noise breaches were serious and had a detrimental effect on neighboring properties.

The vineyard’s attempts to discredit the noise readings by claiming trespassing and errors in measurement location were dismissed by the court. Judge David Kirkpatrick ruled that the measurements were obtained legally and the infringement on the vineyard’s property rights was insignificant compared to the gravity of the noise pollution.

This latest judgment marks the end of a costly legal saga for both the council and Cable Bay Wine. The council spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on enforcement and legal fees, while the vineyard faces a hefty fine and the prospect of further appeals.

“This has been a long road,” said David Pawson, acting compliance manager for the Auckland Council. “We are pleased with the court’s decision… This is a positive outcome for noise enforcement.”

Cable Bay Wine lawyer Karenza de Silva stated that the vineyard is considering appealing the ruling and will seek costs from the council for previous charges that were dismissed.

The case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing economic interests with environmental protection, particularly in areas with high tourist activity. The verdict sends a strong message about the consequences of violating noise limits and emphasizes the importance of responsible development practices.

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