Northern Co-operative Meat Company at Casino will fight a $15,000 fine from the Environment Protection Authority, saying it is doing what’s expected and will comply on time.
“NCMC must commit to a clear program of works, which will deliver sustainable wastewater management by 30 December 2018,” said EPA regional manager Brett Nudd in a statement.
But NCMC CEO Simon Stahl said the abattoir and tannery was moving towards full EPA compliance with $10 million spent in the past five years, $6m of that to separate dirty streams out of the tannery, with another $5m budgeted for the coming year.
Nutrient absorption using reed crops has been tested by Southern Cross University. However EPA has said the company failed to address key issues affecting the performance of the wastewater management system.
EPA’s Mr Nudd said the EPA has been working with the company for many years seeking to achieve the sustainable management of waste water.
“Waste water generated by the abattoir contains high levels of nutrients which must be carefully managed to prevent impacts on ground and surface water, including the Richmond River catchment,” Mr Nudd said.
“While some measures have been implemented to improve the management of waste water in recent years, major improvements are still needed for the company to achieve sustainable waste water management.”
After extended negotiations the EPA issued a Pollution Reduction Program to the company in early 2016 that required the development of a clear plan, which demonstrates how the Company will achieve sustainable wastewater management at the premises by 30 December 2018.
This required the company to submit a report to the EPA by December last year setting out a program of works and measures to achieve this outcome.
“The report submitted by the company failed to address key issues affecting the performance of the wastewater management system or demonstrate that the site can achieve sustainable reuse of waste water by the end of 2018.
“The company was also required to submit progress updates to the EPA on the development of the report and these have at times been submitted late or have been inadequate.”
Mr Nudd said the EPA will not accept complacency.
“The Northern Cooperative Meat Company must commit to a clear program of works, which will deliver sustainable wastewater management by 30 December 2018.”
Pollution Reduction Programs are included on a licensees environment protection licence and are legally binding. The EPA will issue a revised Pollution Reduction Program to the company with a deadline to address the inadequacies in the report and meet the conditions of the program.
Penalty Notices are one of a number of tools the EPA can use to achieve environmental compliance including formal warnings, official cautions, licence conditions, notices and directions and prosecutions.