After a December visit to the Miners Rest saleyards, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has handed down their decision on the much debated odour of the Central Victorian Livestock Exchange (CVLX).
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By 15 February 2019, CVLX is required to modify their cleaning activities to prevent offensive odours being emitted into the residential areas surrounding the premises according to a pollution abatement notice.
The notice states that while the saleyards were cleaner during the EPA’s December 11 visit than previously, greater cleaning measures and methods must be used to mitigate the odour.
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In the pollution abatement notice the EPA South West authorised officer stated their reasons for the decision.
“EPA has received about 100 community pollution reports alleging odour impacts in the residential areas, surrounding (the saleyards),” they said.
The main cause of the odour appears to be wastewater stored in flush lagoons on site. The officer further elaborated on the issue below.
“Current pen cleaning practice using large volumes of water are at odds with the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) approved through the Works Approval process… thus hosing of yards creates high strength wastewater and using the first flush lagoon to capture and direct these wastewaters to the on premises wastewater treatment plant could contribute to generation of excessive odour emissions.
“These non-approved practices are believed to be strongly contributing to offensive odours being emitted to the residential areas surrounding the premises.”
If found guilty of contravening the requirements of the notice, CVLX may be ordered to pay a fine of up to 2400 penalty units ($386,856) and an additional penalty of up to 1200 penalty units for each day the offence continues ($193,428 a day).
Read the full EPA report below.
