Neutrog

Neutrog Trading Pty Ltd (Neutrog) is located at Kanmantoo and is a manufacturer of biological fertilisers. The site has development approval from the Mount Barker District Council, and holds an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence 51672 to undertake composting.
Composting is considered a ‘Prescribed Activity of Environmental Significance’, under the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act), which provides the EPA with a means of regulating Neutrog through licence conditions.
Please contact us if you have any questions on:
- Phone: (08) 8124 4216
Neutrog Trading Pty Ltd (Neutrog) is located at Kanmantoo and is a manufacturer of biological fertilisers. The site has development approval from the Mount Barker District Council, and holds an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence 51672 to undertake composting.
Composting is considered a ‘Prescribed Activity of Environmental Significance’, under the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act), which provides the EPA with a means of regulating Neutrog through licence conditions.
Please contact us if you have any questions on:
- Phone: (08) 8124 4216
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Community info session - 31 October
The EPA would like to invite interested community members to meet with our staff, answer your questions, and provide information on the regulation of Neutrog.
Date: Monday 31 October
Time: 12 noon – 8pm please ‘drop-in’ anytime
Venue: Carob and Hare Café, 14 Princes Highway Kanmantoo
This is an opportunity for the local community to speak one-on-one with staff from the EPA about Neutrog. We look forward to meeting with you, listening to your questions and sharing our information. Tea and coffee will be provided. If this time is unsuitable, please email or call and we’ll arrange for you to speak with staff at a mutually convenient time.
*RSVP is essential. Please call (08) 8124 4216 or email engage.epa@sa.gov.au to let us know your approximate arrival time, to assist with staff scheduling.
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Dust
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.
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EPA licence for composting
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.
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Granting of the licence
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.
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Licence inclusions
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.
Your Language
Automatic translations are provided as a guide only. To speak with us using a live interpreter, please call the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450, and ask them to call us on 08 8757 9000.
Regulatory timeline
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January 2021: EPA Licence
Neutrog has finished this stageAn EPA Licence was granted to operate a composting facility at Kanmantoo site.
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June- July 2021: Community engagement commences
Neutrog has finished this stageCommunity consultation commences, and odour dispersion modelling is undertaken by Neutrog.
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December 2021: Community meeting
Neutrog has finished this stageCommunity members held a public meeting on 3 December 2021, with EPA attending.
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January 2022: Revised Groundwater Monitoring Plan
Neutrog has finished this stageRevised Groundwater Monitoring Plan condition added to the Licence.
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February 2022: Odour EIP
Neutrog has finished this stageCommunity consultation undertaken by Neutrog for draft Odour- Environment Improvement Plan (EIP).
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March - April 2022: Neutrog undertakes consultation on EIP
Neutrog has finished this stageCommunity consultation submissions collated and summarised for informing the development of the Odour Environment Improvement Program.
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April 2022: Groundwater Monitoring Plan
Neutrog has finished this stageGroundwater Monitoring Plan finalised.
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April 2022: Update EIP submitted to the EPA
Neutrog has finished this stageEnvironment Improvement Program developed and updated by Neutrog. EPA requests assessment by a suitably qualified air quality specialist.
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May 2022: Neutrog's Environment Improvement Program not approved
Neutrog has finished this stageThe EPA is not satisfied that the EIP is of an appropriate standard, and advises Neutrog it must engage a suitably qualified air quality/odour specialist to develop odour reduction measures.
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June 2022: Neutrog advises odour specialist engaged
Neutrog has finished this stageThe EPA issued an expiation for non-compliance with the EIP submission date of 1 March 2022. Neutrog advised the EPA that is has now engaged an appropriately qualified odour specialist to review odour monitoring and update the EIP for submission to the EPA.
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July 2022: EPA introduces new licence condition
Neutrog has finished this stageOn 20 July 2022, the EPA issued a new licence condition to deal specifically with odour.
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August 2022: : Neutrog appeals licence condition
Neutrog has finished this stage1 August 2022 Neutrog lodged an appeal in the Environment Resources and Development Court of the new odour licence condition.
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October 2022: EPA holds community information session
Neutrog has finished this stageOn 31 October 2022, EPA and SA Health representatives held a community information session in Kanmantoo.
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March 2023: Court conciliation process continues
Neutrog is currently at this stageEnvironment, Resources and Development Court conciliation process continuing.