The South Taranaki District Council has admitted responsibility for its role in the rotting buttermilk smell that plagued the township of Eltham.
In the New Plymouth District Court today, the council pleaded guilty to a charge of discharging contaminants brought under the Resource Management Act.
The Taranaki Regional Council laid the charge but withdrew a further eight charges.
The charge relates to the objectional odour caused by the disposal and treatment of dairy product at the Eltham Wastewater Treatment facility.
The South Taranaki District Council will be sentenced on 24 November.
The case against Fonterra, which is facing nine charges of discharging contaminants, was adjourned until 2 October.
