A dairy company in Waikato has been fined more than $30,000 for illegally discharging effluent.
Waikato Regional Council says it began an investigation at one of the properties owned by Fernaig Farms in February this year after an effluent storage pond was found to be overflowing into a nearby gully.
Council staff also found an irrigator was operating too slowly, causing a large volume of effluent to pond on land.
Defen ce lawyer Peter Fisher said the system was marginally adequate and a management issue and heavy rainfall caused it to fail.
Mr Fisher said the company has since spent $250,000 upgrading the system.
The fine was imposed by Hamilton District Court this week.
