Van Hessen operates a food processing plant at 79 Shanley St Wangaratta South 3678. Van Hessen conduct activities under EPA Operating Licence 2966 which allows for discharges of treated wastewater to land.

Between Oct-Nov 2022 EPA received 136 pollution reports relating to odour. EPA were advise that Van Hessen's aerobic lagoon for treatment of water had 'flipped', meaning the sludge on bottom risen to surface. The local CFA was forced to close due to effects of odour.

Van Hessen and the sole director GREAVES were each charged under s 63(1) for breach of condition of licence. The company pleaded guilty and received without conviction an adjourned undertaking for 18 months with the sole condition to make a contribution of $30,000 to the court fund. The Magistrate also made an adverse publicity order and a restorative justice order, Van Hessen being ordered to publish a notice in a local newspaper and contribute $75,000 to a project involving Wangaratta Rural Council and Meriwa Industries.

The director GREAVES also pleaded guilty and received without condition an adjourned undertaking for 12 months with the sole condition to contribute $3,000 to the court fund.