Guidance for assessing odour

Guidance for assessing odour presents new tools to assess risks associated with offensive odour. They are designed to provide enough evidence regarding the risk of odour impacts occurring commensurate with the scale and complexity of the scenario being examined. It provides information on how to assess the risk posed by odour emission sources and to understand the receiving environment where effects might occur.

This guidance is focused on the assessment of odour under the provisions of the Act, including the General Environmental Duty, which requires all Victorians to take precautionary and reasonable actions to avoid hazards causing harm. This guidance is primarily intended for government, the planning sector, practitioners and specialists, who need to understand offensive odours that are associated with a development proposal, investigation or study where an odour assessment is required.