By Alesha Capone
A business located near the Federation Trail in Laverton North has been issued with a minor works pollution abatement notice after an investigation into “smelly” water flooding the cycling path.
In July, the Bicycle Network said Federation Trail was “flooded and impassable” because it was completely submerged between Little Boundary Road and an underpass at the Western Ring Road.
Cyclists were forced to detour via Pipe Road and Little Boundary Road.
Tarneit cyclist Jason van der Paal said he had contacted several authorities about the “smelly water” flooding the trail.
He described the water as having a “horrible stench, like rotted organics coming from it”.
A spokeswoman from the Victorian Environment Protection Authority said it had received several reports about the water across the trail.
She said the matter had been referred to the Wyndham Officer for the Protection of the Local Environment (an EPA officer working with Wyndham council), who traced the source of the water to a nearby animal hide business.
The EPA spokeswoman said the business had connected its wastewater to a stormwater drain that was discharging near the trail.
She said the business had been issued a minor works pollution abatement notice to stop the discharge of polluted water to stormwater.
“EPA and City West Water will work with the business over the next few months to further improve their wastewater and site run-off systems and ensure it doesn’t happen again,” the spokeswoman said.
The water on the trail has been removed by a contractor engaged by Major Road Projects Authority.
Major Road Projects Authority project director Frank De Santis said the organisation was confident the issue had been resolved.
“We’re reopening the Federation Trail to full capacity,” he said.
Report pollution to the EPA’s 24-hour reporting line on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or epa.vic.gov.au.
