EPA Victoria has approved a Development Licence application from Paper Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Opal Australia Paper (Opal).

The application proposed changes at the Maryvale paper mill in the Latrobe Valley. Opal will reduce the number of operating plants from three to two. This will change the mill's licensed discharges to air and surface waters.

The proposal included transitioning pine pulping from the Batch Kraft Mill to the Continuous Kraft Mill (CKM) and taking the Batch Kraft Mill offline

In reaching its decision, EPA Victoria consulted with the local community taking into account concerns around waste water, air, odour, noise and greenhouse gas emissions concluding that Opal is using best available techniques and technology and does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.

To read more about the development licence application, go to Paper Australia Pty Ltd (APP027019) | Engage Victoria