Neutrog

The Odour Environment Improvement Program (Odour EIP) submitted by Neutrog on the 22 April 2022 was not to the satisfaction of the EPA, and has not been approved. The Odour EIP has not addressed the requirement to engage a suitably qualified Air Quality/Odour specialist to develop the EIP and provide recommendations to address odour.

In order for the EIP to be to the satisfaction of the EPA and in accordance with the requirements of the licence condition, it needs to address community submissions (made during the course of public consultation) in the development of the EIP.

It also requires a specialist to analyse and interpret odour modelling results already carried out, and undertake further monitoring and odour source assessment to provide a clear connection to the Odour EIP and odour reduction methods.

Further advice and recommendations are still required from an Air Quality-Odour Specialist in relation to specific odour mitigation and attenuation actions, to address community concerns raised in the community engagement process.

Because the Odour EIP was not submitted to the satisfaction of the EPA by the compliance date of 1 March 2022, the EPA has issued an expiation to Neutrog for the contravention of the licence condition, pursuant to s.45(5) of the Environment Protection Act 1993.

In May 2020 the EPA commenced odour monitoring in Kanmantoo and the surrounding area as a result of community concern about odour.

We encourage community members to please fill out odour diaries to assist in our investigations (please visit the EPA website and download a diary from the section ‘Reporting odour nuisance’).

Alternatively please drop a pin by clicking on the report button above.

Odour levels have so far not exceeded requirements of the EP Act and associated policies. However, very high odour levels have been detected at and around the facility.

The EPA has approved Neutrog’s odour management plan (OMP) and dust management plan (DMP). Implementation of these plans is ongoing. Odour source identification, monitoring and testing are informing ongoing odour mitigation and management actions in accordance with the OMP.

Developing and implementing an odour environment improvement plan (EIP) is pending, in order to ensure odour emissions are prevented or minimised, and odour levels do not exceed requirements of the EP Act and associated policies.

Dust impacts have reduced following enclosure and process improvement of several identified dust sources. This includes installation of dust covers on feed hoppers of screening and mulching machines and additional cleaning of exhaust/ductwork associated with the pellet press.

All odour and dust complaints received are being investigated and onsite activities reviewed and improved in response.

Composting is a ‘Prescribed Activity of Environmental Significance’ defined in Schedule 1 Part A, 3(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act). The Act requires these types of activities to be licensed and provides the EPA with a means of regulating such operations through licence conditions. An EPA licence may only be granted after development approval has been provided by the relevant development authority, which in this case is the Mount Barker District Council.

Once development approval was granted by the council, Neutrog applied to the EPA for a licence to conduct composting works at its Kanmantoo site.

In 2020, the EPA undertook public consultation in relation to Neutrog’s application. In accordance with statutory requirements, the EPA notified neighbouring properties directly via mail and published details of the application on its website.

An EPA licence was subsequently granted with a number of conditions placed on the company.

The licence includes conditions requiring the company to develop the following plans:

• odour management
• dust management
• community engagement

These conditions are enforceable and the EPA can take a number of different actions, including prosecution, if the licence conditions are not met.

The licence restricts operations in line with the current development approval.