EPA Victoria's inspection blitz in Melbourne's west has resulted in the regulator ordering 10 companies to take immediate action to fix and strengthen their odour controls or face serious enforcement action.
Companies in Laverton North, Brooklyn and Sunshine have been hit with strict notices. Authorised officers and scientists have inspected 31 premises, issued 10 compliance notices and provided more than 37 pieces of compliance advice to date.
Most operators are on track to comply with the strict requirements of the notices and are progressing to fixing their odour controls. EPA holds concerns regarding the odour controls of CSF Proteins Pty Ltd (CSF) who have failed to comply with a notice issued by EPA.
Since the start of the year, EPA has received an above average number of odour reports, with multiple sites identified as the alleged cause of the smell. Most pollution reports allege CSF is responsible for the odour.
Its Laverton North plant is the largest meat-processing operation in the region. EPA believes hundreds of reports of a rotting-meat smell from Sunshine and surrounding suburbs can be traced back to the CSF site.
Under notices, CSF must immediately fix gaps in its rendering plant and shed, which have allowed odours to escape, as well as progressively replacing the roof of the plant.
CSF also needs to complete a full airflow study, engage in regular odour monitoring and develop a community engagement plan to explain to nearby residents how it is managing the problem.
"All businesses have a clear legal duty to manage their operations by making sure effective controls are in place to prevent odour and ensuring that offensive smells do not leave their site and impact the community," Western Regional Metropolitan Manager Julia Gaitan said.
"The evidence shows CSF has failed to do that. We are requiring them to lift their game, and if they don't respond to these compliance notices, we will escalate our regulatory action using the full extent of our powers."
"We know the majority of identified operators are on track to comply with EPA notices, so it is disappointing when an operator fails to do the right thing by community."
Ms Gaitan said the watchdog would remain active in tackling odour in the region.
"There are more inspections to come, and we will be following up notices and advice in coming weeks to ensure that they are being acted on," Ms Gaitan said.
"We are working hard to ensure that residents of the inner west can leave their windows open and enjoy their backyards, without worrying they'll be affected by odours. Unfortunately, resolving odour issues takes time through proper detection to remediation."
The community has been EPA's biggest ally in the operation, with timely and detailed pollution reports helping the regulator track down the source of odours.
"We're grateful to everyone who has reported odours to us," Ms Gaitan said. "There's no technology that can detect odour in real time, so the most effective tool we have is the human nose.
"With the community's help and the hard work of our authorised officers and scientists, we will continue to bring odour-emitters to account."
Ms Gaitan said while the source of most of the odour in the area had been identified, it was important for people to keep reporting to the EPA.
