Burra Foods obeys EPA’s demands

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Burra Foods obeys EPA’s demands

BURRA Foods will soon complete initial works to address environmental problems at its Korumburra factory.
The news came as the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) last week announced it had issued Burra Foods with five remedial notices over a one month period.
Those notices required Burra Foods to address wastewater, emissions and odour management issues at the factory.
Burra Foods said the EPA had since rescinded two notices. EPA said one had been rescinded and the second followed up during a site visit at the factory this week.
Burra Foods CEO Grant Crothers said the company continued to improve its wastewater treatment plant.
“We realised many years ago that with local infrastructure so poor, if the site was to meet the ever increasing environmental standards, continual investment in wastewater treatment would be required,” he said.
“We have taken on that challenge, and continue to invest and improve our on-site treatment capability.”
Gippsland EPA manager Emily Sanders said the notices were the result of an investigation into a milk powder fallout incident, wastewater discharge and local officers responding to community reports about odour.
“The community plays an important role in detecting and reporting pollution and potential impacts on the environment,” she said.
“Thirteen community reports of odour identifying Burra Foods as the likely source this year prompted an EPA investigation, which confirmed several odour sources were not being adequately managed.”
EPA identified the wastewater treatment plant as the primary source of odour.
It issued a remedial notice on November 25 requiring immediate maintenance of any equipment used for wastewater so that odour does not vent directly into the atmosphere.
EPA also issued a remedial notice the day before requiring Burra Foods to install additional wastewater treatment infrastructure to help reduce odour emissions and improve the quality of wastewater.
EPA has also required, through a remedial notice issued on November 12, that Burra Foods review its cleaning procedures and equipment, and how it manages the wastewater generated to ensure the company stayed within its maximum discharge limits.
The fourth notice, issued on November 6 following a milk powder dust fallout incident at the site, required the immediate installation of particle emission controls.
Ms Sanders said EPA was taking compliance at the site seriously.
“EPA issued its fifth notice to Burra Foods on December 4 which requires they develop a comprehensive and cohesive plan outlining how they will demonstrate compliance with their EPA licence,” she said.
“Burra Foods have been co-operative in responding to and addressing EPA’s concerns.
“EPA will continue to work with the company to ensure the notices are addressed and complied with so the environment and community remain unaffected by the plant’s processes.”
Mr Crothers said Burra Foods acknowledged that performance in November was below acceptable standards and required immediate action.
“Our management team is well aware of our obligations to our community and EPA licence. Of the remedial notices issued, one has already been rescinded and works are now or will soon to be completed, with the objective of having others follow suit,” he said.
“The 13 complaints that have been lodged in 2014 from our immediate neighbours are disturbing. We know the EPA understands the volatility that comes with managing a wastewater treatment plant at a milk factory and will continue to work with them to improve our performance.”
Mr Crothers said for 98 of the last 114 years, dairy processing on this site has co-habituated with the Korumburra community and Burra Foods remains committed to ensuring that will continue.
EPA will carry out follow up visits to ensure Burra Foods comply with the notices.
Ms Sanders encouraged the community to continue reporting pollution on 1800 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or by visiting www.epa.vic.gov.au
Burra Foods is asking South Gippsland Shire Council to implement planning rules that create a buffer zone around the Korumburra factory.

 

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Posted by on Dec 23 2014. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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