Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s (EPA) investigation into sewage odour reports across Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs has found no evidence to identify the source.
EPA officers visited the Werribee Landfill, Ravenhall Landfill and Western Treatment Plant yesterday as part of its ongoing investigation to locate the source of odour.
EPA Regional Services Executive Director, Damian Wells said the inspections did not detect any issues that point to these sites being the source.
“EPA’s investigation has so far found that the odour is coming from the Werribee and Point Cook areas but we are yet to pinpoint the exact source.”
“We have an officer responding to odour reports that have come through today, which are based around the Werribee and Point Cook areas."
“EPA is continuing to analyse the pollution reports against current weather conditions to gain a better understanding of the incident.”
Mr Wells said EPA had received about 330 calls from members of the public complaining of odour since Sunday evening. The odour has been described variously as sewage or seaweed.
“Majority of the calls are coming from Melbourne’s western suburbs including Werribee, Caroline Springs, Altona, Point Cook and Derrimut,” he said.
“Identifying the exact source can be difficult to locate as the odour plume moves with a change in weather conditions, which was further impacted by rains that fell yesterday.”
“EPA thanks the community for their help in its investigation.”
“We encourage the community to continue reporting odour concerns immediately to its Pollution Hotline on 1300 372 842 (EPA VIC).”