A SERIAL offender responsible for the highest number of odour complaints in Brooklyn could be stripped of its operating licence.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria has given Australian Tallow two weeks to explain why its licence should not be suspended. The deadline passed on Friday.
Odour monitoring has confirmed Australian Tallow is the major source of odour in Brooklyn, with Brooklyn Meats, Australian Skin and Hide, and Transpacific Waste Management (Brooklyn Landfill) as other potential minor sources.
An EPA update to the Brooklyn Community Reference Group (BCRG) confirmed that Australian Tallow continues to discharge odours in breach of its pollution abatement notice (PAN).
“Odours have been confirmed and traced to the premises on multiple occasions. Since July this year, the site appears to have regressed somewhat in addressing odour issues at the site.”
Last year, Australian Tallow was convicted and fined $70,000 over offensive odours and the discharge of animal-derived fat from the Brooklyn rendering facility into Kororoit Creek.
EPA has slapped the company with a notice of contravention, launched an investigation into compliance with the current PAN, and sent the show-cause letter.
On the Nose community group president Bruce Light said the company had long been a cause of concern for residents.
EPA metro manager Richard Marks said most businesses in the Brooklyn area were legitimate, but the way they operated was a concern. “We’ve got some major odour issues in the area.”
At an August BCRG meeting, new Australian Tallow Producers CEO Peter Morley said the company had spent more than $1 million on odour management steps including bio filters, upgraded waste water processing and “developing a plan and culture to manage our environment”.
“The goal is zero odour, but at this point I can’t predict how long that will take.”
