Sewage leak almost reached Tarago River

Leaking sewage that flowed close to the Tarago River has cost the operator of the Settlers Rest Caravan Park at Longwarry North a $6,105 fine from EPA Victoria.

The flow of sewage extended from the edge of a wastewater pond, across an internal road and into an onsite stormwater drain before entering a culvert that ran alongside Morrison Road and towards the Tarago River.

EPA officers found poorly connected pipework allowed human waste to discharge into the environment, before it was stopped by a makeshift dam set up in the culvert just 50 metres from the river.

The leak had been reported on 3 March 2026 by an anonymous member of the public. EPA takes more than 26,000 pollution reports from the public every year.

EPA officers inspected the sewage flow and took samples from the pond as well as locations upstream and downstream of the point where it flowed into the culvert.

EPA Gippsland Acting Regional Manager Zac Dornom says the environmental regulator expects better than this from caravan park operators.

“Caravan parks often combine a mix of environmentally vulnerable landscape with large groups of holidaymakers. The operators have a clear obligation to properly manage their systems and prevent risks of harm to people and the environment,” Mr Dornom said.

EPA has fined the caravan park operator, Towt Bros Pty Ltd, for depositing more than 50 litres but no more than 1,000 litres of sewage from the premises into a roadside culvert linked to the Tarago River, in contravention of the Environment Protection Act 2017.

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