The Gore District Council has entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge laid by WorkSafe over the drowning of a child in an oxidation pond in January 2019.
Lachlan Jones was three years old when he drowned in an oxidation pond.
WorkSafe then laid a charge against the council under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
"The Council pleaded not guilty to the charge and a defended hearing was due to proceed early next year," WorkSafe said in a statement today.
"The charge has now been amended by WorkSafe – the allegation that a serious risk of death arose from the council’s alleged breach has been removed."
After this amendment, the council entered a guilty plea to the reduced charge of failing to perform a duty.
"As always, our thoughts continue to remain with Lachlan’s whanau. His death was a tragedy," Gore District Council chief executive Stephen Parry said.
The matter remains before the court.
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