December 2012 update

EPA’s continued work to address issues of offensive odour in Killara has resulted in a third notice being issued in November. In this notice, EPA is requiring Greenchip Recycling to:

• limit the amount of liquid waste that goes into the compost piles
• store liquid waste coming onto the site in tanks that are constructed so that it doesn’t generate offensive odour
• improve management of liquid waste and drainage systems.

Since July, EPA has issued the company with three notices requiring the company to undertake better management practices and upgrades to the site to reduce the risk of offensive odours in the residential area.

Background

In response to community concerns, EPA and Wodonga council are actively working to reduce offensive odour within the Wodonga and Killara areas.

Wodonga council and EPA have recently worked on the Kelly St area of Wodonga. EPA has required licensed businesses in the area to make substantial improvements. This has resulted in a decrease in reports of offensive odour to EPA. EPA continues to work with businesses to make further improvements in this area.

The Killara/Bandiana area is also the focus of EPA and council efforts. EPA officers have inspected businesses that are potential sources of offensive odour and are working with them to make improvements. Council and EPA staff are monitoring the area with regular weekly investigations. While our work continues, unfortunately there is no quick fix, and improvements as a result of these investigations will take time.

EPA cannot resolve these issues without the community being directly involved. We are seeking your assistance in working to resolve any offensive industrial based odour issues in the Wodonga area.

If you experience odour in the area, you can report it to EPA by calling our pollution hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).

EPA’s role and powers

As an effective environmental regulator EPA’s role is to monitor industry and ensure it complies with the Environment Protection Act 1970 (‘the Act’) and the Pollution of Waters by Oils and Noxious Substances Act 1986 (‘POWBONS Act’). The Act establishes the powers, duties and functions of EPA.

Under the Act, EPA Victoria can ensure compliance with the law in a number of ways. These powers and how they can be used are outlined in EPA’s compliance and enforcement policy. The policy talks about two key elements of enforcement:

• remedy – fixing a problem or preventing an incident
• sanction – applying a penalty for breaking the law.

See more information on pollution abatement notices (PAN).

Action being taken

EPA has taken action in Wodonga to stop offensive odour going beyond site boundaries. EPA action falls into two categories:

• inspecting sites and working with the operators to ensure that the issues that lead to odour off-site are fixed
• using its statutory powers under the Act to ensure operators comply with their environmental obligations.

As the local council, the City of Wodonga works closely with EPA regarding odour complaints and providing assistance when required.

Odour facts

Offensive odours are those which are offensive to the senses of human beings and adversely affect local amenity or enjoyment of the environment. In order for EPA to take action, the odour must be verified. Council’s environmental health officers can assist EPA when requested in confirming odours.

• Odour fact sheet

EPA-licensed sites in Wodonga

Statutory notices

EPA has issued a number of notices in the Wodonga area. In some cases these relate directly to odour. In other cases the notices were on the basis of other environmental impacts but may have been contributing to odour issues. These notices require improvements to environmental impact to be made.

EPA is continuing to inspect a number of sites for potential breaches of their licences with the view to improving their environmental performance and reducing the impact on community.

You can find previous information about this issue on the Wodonga odour issues archive page.