Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has acted to allow Alcoa of Australia’s continued discharge of treated bore water to the Anglesea River, as recently announced by the State Government.
On 13 July, 2015, the State Government announced that water flows from Alcoa’s site to the Anglesea River would continue over the summer period at a similar level to recent years, while long-term planning for the river occurs.
EPA Manager South West Region, Eve Graham, said Alcoa had held a licence to discharge treated water since 1974, subject to restrictions on wastewater quality and monitoring requirements.
Ms Graham said EPA recently provided Alcoa with a 30A approval under the Environment Protection Act 1970 to allow for commissioning of changes to the treatment and management system of the water discharge following the power station’s closure.
“Following the closure of the mine and power station on 31 August 2015, Alcoa has agreed to continue to discharge water to the Anglesea River while future planning for the river occurs,” Ms Graham said.
“The EPA approval requires that Alcoa take immediate action if any event causes the quality of the discharge to go outside of the existing licence limits, and sets upper limits to any discharge to protect the health of the river.
“The commissioning approval also requires increased monitoring and reporting for its duration, which is valid until 27 October 2015, after which time normal licence requirements will continue to apply,” she said.
Ms Graham said EPA was working with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and other government agencies to advise on water quality aspects of the river into the future.