EPA fines over spilt milk

A dairy products manufacturer at Tullamarine has been hit with a $5,928 fine from EPA Victoria, after hundreds of litres of liquid dairy waste escaped its premises.

A member of the public called EPA on 6 June 2025 to report a milky white discharge running across parkland towards Steele Creek, from the company’s premises on Steele Court.

When EPA officers responded, they found a trail of the milky white substance leading back from the eastern bank of the creek, across 80 metres of vegetated land to the western boundary of Ferraro Dairy Foods.

The milky-white liquid was pooled around trees, shrubs and in the soil, and the EPA officers detected a smell of rancid milk in the area. They took water samples from Steele Creek and of the discharge in the soil to confirm the nature of the spill.

EPA eventually found the source of the discharge was an overflowing tank at the company’s water treatment plant.

Sydney based company Deldi Holdings Pty Ltd, trading as Ferraro Dairy Foods, has been fined for depositing waste of more than 50 litres but not more than 1000 litres at a place that was not licensed to accept it.

Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the operator has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.

Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution