Neutrog

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.

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.