Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined Korumburra company Burra Foods following an EPA investigation that found the company to be in breach of its EPA licence.
The $7381 fine was issued following a milk powder fallout incident at the site last November.
EPA Gippsland Manager Emily Sanders said the company had installed particle emission controls following the event to ensure the incident didn’t happen again.
“EPA understands that milk powder fallout is a nuisance for local residents and something they shouldn’t have to contend with,” Ms Sanders said.
“EPA is committed to the local community and will continue to monitor Burra Foods’ compliance to see that its systems prevent this sort of incident from occurring again in Korumburra.”
Ms Sanders said the fine followed five remedial notices issued last year that required Burra Foods to address a range of issues at its premises.
“The notices required immediate maintenance and upgrades of equipment used for wastewater treatment to prevent odour being generated and to improve wastewater quality,” she said.
“Other notices required a review of cleaning procedures and how wastewater is managed, and the installation of particle emission controls. Most notices have now been revoked after works conducted by Burra Foods.”
Ms Sanders said the final notice, for which compliance is due by April 2015, required Burra Foods to develop a comprehensive monitoring plan outlining how it will demonstrate compliance with its EPA licence.
“EPA will continue to monitor Burra Foods very closely to ensure this plan is completed by the April deadline,” Ms Sanders said.
Ms Sanders encouraged the community to continue reporting pollution on 1800 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or by visiting www.epa.vic.gov.au