Dairy Farm Operators Penalized for Environmental Violations in Waikato

In a recent ruling by the Huntly District Court, a contract milker and a dairy farm owner were fined a total of $66,500 for unlawfully discharging dairy shed effluent and stockfeed leachate into the environment. The case was pursued by the Waikato Regional Council under the Resource Management Act.

Inspections by council officers in June 2024 at a Tuakau farm, owned by Sunrise Dam Limited, uncovered significant environmental breaches. During the first inspection, it was discovered that a large volume of dairy effluent had been unlawfully discharged onto land via a stormwater diversion, as directed by the farm’s contract milker, Yubraj Subedi. Additionally, leachate was found discharging from a stock feed bunker into a roadside drain.

Further inspections later that month revealed that the feed bunker continued to discharge leachate, with the potential to reach the Waikato River. As a result, Subedi received a fine of $49,000 for his involvement, while Sunrise Dam Limited was fined $17,500 for the leachate issue.

Patrick Lynch, the regional compliance manager, emphasized the importance of clear responsibility for environmental compliance on dairy farms. He stated, "This case highlights the importance of clear responsibility for environmental compliance on dairy farms, particularly where farm operations are delegated to others."

Despite acknowledging that Sunrise Dam Limited had upgraded its infrastructure following the council’s intervention, Lynch reinforced that farm owners and managers must ensure that appropriate systems and management procedures are consistently in place to prevent environmental harm.