Neutrog has development approval from the Mount Barker District Council, and holds an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence 51672 to undertake composting activities in Kanmantoo, SA.
On 26 September 2023, Court Orders were made in settlement of the Court proceedings. Those Orders require Neutrog, by 14 December 2023 and through a staged process, to reconfigure its stockpiles dimensions to 3m (H) x 7m (W) x 25m (L). These stockpile dimensions align with the current development approval and EPA licence condition. The Orders also reversed the EPA’s decision to issue the Environment Protection Order (EPO), noting that the reconfiguration of the stockpiles was the primary purpose for the EPO being issued.
Neutrog has submitted a staged Environment Improvement Programme ('EIP’) which aims, and proposes a plan, to improve the site’s odour performance. The EIP has been accepted by the EPA and now forms a part of Neutrog’s EPA licence. Key measures of the EIP include:
relocating initial composting stages to a new compost pad on the south of the Site, furthest from Kanmantoo
building a shed to enclose the front-end processes (including receipt of material and initial stockpile composting) when the material it is most odorous and
undertaking odour modelling and monitoring (by an air quality expert) following the implementation of the above actions to assess the odour performance of the site with those measures in place.
These measures were recommended by suitably qualified experts who assessed the odour performance of the site periodically over the past 12 months. Neutrog has now complied with the requirement to undertake odour assessments, including seasonal assessments, and submit an acceptable EIP.
Neutrog has progressed some aspects of the staged EIP by submitting development applications seeking approval to implement the above measures.
Neutrog has development approval from the Mount Barker District Council, and holds an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence 51672 to undertake composting activities in Kanmantoo, SA.
On 26 September 2023, Court Orders were made in settlement of the Court proceedings. Those Orders require Neutrog, by 14 December 2023 and through a staged process, to reconfigure its stockpiles dimensions to 3m (H) x 7m (W) x 25m (L). These stockpile dimensions align with the current development approval and EPA licence condition. The Orders also reversed the EPA’s decision to issue the Environment Protection Order (EPO), noting that the reconfiguration of the stockpiles was the primary purpose for the EPO being issued.
Neutrog has submitted a staged Environment Improvement Programme ('EIP’) which aims, and proposes a plan, to improve the site’s odour performance. The EIP has been accepted by the EPA and now forms a part of Neutrog’s EPA licence. Key measures of the EIP include:
relocating initial composting stages to a new compost pad on the south of the Site, furthest from Kanmantoo
building a shed to enclose the front-end processes (including receipt of material and initial stockpile composting) when the material it is most odorous and
undertaking odour modelling and monitoring (by an air quality expert) following the implementation of the above actions to assess the odour performance of the site with those measures in place.
These measures were recommended by suitably qualified experts who assessed the odour performance of the site periodically over the past 12 months. Neutrog has now complied with the requirement to undertake odour assessments, including seasonal assessments, and submit an acceptable EIP.
Neutrog has progressed some aspects of the staged EIP by submitting development applications seeking approval to implement the above measures.
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Regulatory timeline
2020: Public consultation
Neutrog has finished this stage
In accordance with statutory requirements, the EPA undertook public consultation prior to issuing a licence.
January 2021: EPA Licence
Neutrog has finished this stage
An EPA Licence was granted to operate a composting facility at Kanmantoo site.
June- July 2021: Community engagement commences
Neutrog has finished this stage
Community consultation commences, and odour dispersion modelling is undertaken by Neutrog.
December 2021: Community meeting
Neutrog has finished this stage
Community members held a public meeting on 3 December 2021, with EPA attending.
January 2022: Revised Groundwater Monitoring Plan
Neutrog has finished this stage
Revised Groundwater Monitoring Plan condition added to the Licence.
February 2022: Odour EIP
Neutrog has finished this stage
Community consultation undertaken by Neutrog for draft Odour- Environment Improvement Plan (EIP).
March - April 2022: Neutrog undertakes consultation on EIP
Neutrog has finished this stage
Community consultation submissions collated and summarised for informing the development of the Odour Environment Improvement Program.
April 2022: Groundwater Monitoring Plan
Neutrog has finished this stage
Groundwater Monitoring Plan finalised.
April 2022: Update EIP submitted to the EPA
Neutrog has finished this stage
Environment Improvement Program developed and updated by Neutrog. EPA requests assessment by a suitably qualified air quality specialist.
May 2022: Neutrog's Environment Improvement Program not approved
Neutrog has finished this stage
The 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.
June 2022: Neutrog advises odour specialist engaged
Neutrog has finished this stage
The 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.
July 2022: EPA introduced new licence condition
Neutrog has finished this stage
On 20 July 2022, the EPA issued a new licence condition to deal specifically with odour.
August 2022: Neutrog appealed licence condition
Neutrog has finished this stage
1 August 2022 Neutrog lodged an appeal in the Environment Resources and Development Court of the new odour licence condition.
October 2022: EPA held a community information session
Neutrog has finished this stage
On 31 October 2022, EPA and SA Health representatives held a community information session in Kanmantoo.
September 2023: Development Applications
Neutrog has finished this stage
Neutrog submitted applications for relocating initial stockpiled litter, increasing the heights of stockpiles to 7m, reforming the shape of the stockpiles to conical and to build shed enclosure for receiving poultry litter.
September 2023: Court actions completed
Neutrog has finished this stage
Neutrog to reconfigure all stockpiles to windrow formation 3m(H) x 7m(W) x 25m(D) by 14 December 2023. A Staged Environment Improvement Programme – Odour was finalised.
October 2023: EPA licence updated
Neutrog is currently at this stage
Licence 51672 updated to include staged EIP – Odour and remove redundant conditions that Neutrog has complied with.