Hawke's Bay Regional Council hopes mediation will resolve a dispute with AFFCO, over waste from the company's Wairoa sheep and beef plant, ending up in the Wairoa river.
Resource Management Manager Darryl Lew says the company has appealed against the council's decision over changes to a consent to dump waste in the river, which expired in 2008.
He Lew says it's a very complex issue. Between the council and AFFCO there are six scientists working on it.
He hopes mediation will avoid a costly hearing before the Environment Court.
