By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com
A Waihi dairy farmer has been fined $39,000 after repeatedly breaching dairy effluent rules, leading to unlawful discharges that posed a significant risk to groundwater.
Farmer Keith Torrens was convicted in the Tauranga District Court after pleading guilty to a charge under the Resource Management Act, following a prosecution brought by Waikato Regional Council.
The conviction stems from an inspection in October 2023, when council compliance officers discovered two separate illegal discharges—one from the dairy shed and another caused by over‑irrigation. Both incidents occurred despite Torrens being issued an abatement notice earlier in the year for similar non‑compliance.
Council Compliance Manager Patrick Lynch said the case highlighted the ongoing issue of inadequate effluent infrastructure on some farms. Torrens had purchased an effluent storage bladder years earlier but had never installed it, even after receiving formal warnings.
“Dairy effluent systems need to be fit for purpose, robust and carefully managed to avoid environmental harm,” Lynch said. “In this case, Mr Torrens had the equipment available but chose not to install it, despite clear direction from council.”
Judge Sheena Tepania described the offending as careless, noting that Torrens had an ongoing responsibility to ensure his farm had efficient and effective effluent systems. “As he had purchased a bladder, it makes no sense to the Court that he would not install it,” she said during sentencing.
The court heard that Torrens’ limited storage capacity meant effluent irrigation was likely to occur even when soil and weather conditions were unsuitable, increasing the risk of contamination.
Waikato Regional Council says the case serves as a reminder that poor effluent management can have serious environmental consequences and will be met with firm enforcement action.
