29 Jun 2012

Dairy farming firm fined for effluent offences

1:59 pm on 29 June 2012

A Te Awamutu dairy farming company has been fined nearly $32,000 for illegal discharge of effluent.

The case, brought by Waikato Regional Council, concerned two breaches last year at a farm owned by Wyebrook Farms Limited.

In one instance, council inspectors found effluent from a holding pond overflowing at five separate places into a nearby stream.

An investigation also found that a large pile of effluent scrapings had been removed from an effluent bunker and placed on a neighbouring paddock, resulting in further discharges.

The farming company admitted the offences which the judge described as moderately serious.