Western suburbs odour project

Report it

This project ensured businesses in Melbourne’s west will fix odour issues or face serious enforcement action. If you experience offensive odour or are impacted by other environmental issues, report it.

Unlike other pollutants, odour can be detected by the human nose well before it can be measured with technology. We rely on observations from trained officers and community reports to resolve these issues.

Project overview

The inner western suburbs of Melbourne have many potentially odorous industries. These include animal processing and seed oil production. Many of these businesses operate close to communities who can be impacted by odour, this is most common during the summer and autumn months.

We ran an intensive program of inspections in this region between December 2025 and June 2026. During the program, odour pollution reports from the area significantly increased. This was against the trend of recent years and reporting indicated that it was likely caused by more than one business.

In response, our:

officers increased their inspections, including with EPA’s principal odour expert
air and odour experts analysed weather and other data to guide the inspections program.

Our unannounced inspections and follow-up visits continued for 7 months. Notices and compliance advice were issued when issues were identified.

In all cases we expect industry to control pollution, including offensive smells, at the source.

Outcomes

Throughout the project we:

ordered 16 companies in Laverton North, Brooklyn and Sunshine to take immediate action to fix odour issues
inspected 37 sites
issued 18 notices
provided more than 46 pieces of compliance advice.

Activity to reduce industrial odour impacts in Melbourne’s west are ongoing. We have inspections and enforcement activity planned throughout 2026-27.

These are informed by pollution reports and field intelligence.

Our role

We ensure businesses and individuals understand their environmental impacts and obligations under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (the Act). We have a range of tools to ensure everyone meets the requirements of the Act. This includes:

site inspections
issuing regulatory notices
collaborating with law enforcement and other regulators
other regulatory actions.

We can also issue fines and lay charges. However, our first priority is to prevent harm to the community and environment (including from odours).

Managing impacts on human health and the environment

If you are experiencing unpleasant odours, consider closing all windows and doors. You should reopen them when the odour has passed to clear any residual smell.

Should you experience any health problems, contact:

your doctor
Nurse on Call (1300 606 024)

For all emergencies, call 000.

Timeline

This targeted project has closed. We will still pursue the remaining open notices to ensure compliance.
Over the 7 months of the project we:
- inspected 37 sites
- issued 18 notices
- provided more than 46 pieces of compliance advice
Odour reports have significantly reduced.
Our officers continue to monitor compliance at locations across Melbourne's western suburbs. This includes responding to an increase in odour reports in and around:
- Brooklyn
- Sunshine
- Sunshine West.
Our officers have identified the likely source.
Existing notices that remain active have due dates in May and June. Duty holders have until then to take action to address the identified issues.
We have now conducted 49 field activities since 1 January. These include site inspections and odour tracing.
- 14 notices have been issued this year.
- 2 have been complied with and most others will be actioned in May and June.
- 1 further notice was complied with past it's due date. Further actions are currently being considered.
Across the area, 46 pieces of compliance advice have been issued.
16 of these were related to odour. 30 were for other areas of non-compliance.
Since 1 January we have:
- conducted 45 inspections
- issued 38 pieces of compliance advice.
Businesses in the area have been issued 11 notices. The requirements of 2 of these notices have been fulfilled.
CSF Proteins PTY LTD has failed to comply with 1 notice and further action will be taken.
Read Operators in Melbourne's west directed to fix the stink for more information.
Further inspections are complete. More compliance information has been shared.
Since 1 January we have:
- conducted 43 inspections
- issued 37 pieces of compliance advice.
Businesses in the area have been issued 9 notices. The requirements of 2 of these notices have been fulfilled.
Our officers are again in the field. They are inspecting sites up-wind of recent reports and identifying likely sources for further action.
Since 1 January we have:
- conducted 38 inspections
- issued 31 pieces of compliance advice
Businesses in the area have been issued 9 notices. The requirements of 2 of these notices have been fulfilled.
A total of 36 inspections across 22 sites have been completed as part of the program. We have issued:
- 8 compliance notices
- 28 pieces of compliance advice.