By Star Weekly
A BACCHUS Marsh farmer has been fined $150,000 for illegally clearing protected vegetation on his property.
During earthworks conducted in 2010, John Debono cleared 45 hectares, damaging a threatened ecological species under national environment law.
Mr Debono, 55, was stopped from further work in December that year following a Federal Court injunction.
A Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman said Mr Debono would have to rehabilitate certain parts of the property and pay legal costs of $40,000.
