EPA warns farmers about burning waste

The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued a warning to rural landholders after issuing a hefty fine for burning a pile of farm waste in southwest Victoria.

EPA Gippsland region manager Jessica Bandiera said the fire cost a dairy company more than $8000, after EPA officers found the pile, containing plastic, wire, soil and hay, still burning when they arrived.

“The pile also included a 20-litre plastic chemical drum, fence posts, ash and bailing twine. It was industrial waste and should have been taken for proper disposal,” Ms Bandiera said.

EPA issued the company with a fine of $8060 for permitting the discard of industrial waste through burning, a breach of Section 27 of the Environment Protection Act.

The burning pile was approximately four metres square and 1.8 metres high, with grey smoke and flames visible when EPA’s officers arrived. They were told the fire had started through spontaneous combustion several days before.

A company representative told EPA the local CFA brigade had been called to fight a similar spontaneous fire in a pile of waste at the farm 12 months earlier.

“Getting rid of mixed piles of farm waste by burning them may have been the practice of previous generations, but it is now recognised that it creates a significant risk to the environment and can impact people’s health,” Ms Bandiera said.

“Materials like these should go to recycling or an appropriate landfill. The company has now introduced a waste management process to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future,” she said.

“Discarding industrial waste in such a way can cause land pollution and groundwater contamination that affect future generations.”

EPA issued a legally enforceable Clean Up Notice requiring the company to remove the remaining waste for proper disposal.

“This is another case where a report from a member of the public made all the difference. EPA officers were able to respond while the fire was still burning and ensure it was extinguished promptly, helping to reduce the amount of damage done to the environment,” Ms Bandiera said.

Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2008, the company had the right to have the decision to issue the infringement notice reviewed or alternatively to have the matter heard and determined by a court.

Members of the public can report all types of pollution to the EPA 24-hour hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or at the EPA website www.epa.vic.gov.au

Market report for 20th and 21st February Wednesday Fat Sale 228 head. Thursday Cow and Bull Sale 439 cows, 68 bulls and 36 steers.

162 vealers were yarded, where the best vealers sold to a dearer trend on last week’s sale and cattle unfinished were hard to sell. Steers and heifers sold to good demand, cattle with weight selling well.

162 vealers sold to 325, averaged 264.1 and per head $973.42.

55 steers sold to 298.2, averaged 241.1 and per head $1240.86.

11 heifers to 267.6 cents, averaged 197.4 and per head $823.89.

The average offered on the bulls was down 6 cents and the cow average was up 13 cents. Price of steers remained steady, with a lot of unjoined heifers offered. 439 cows averaged 155.4 and per head average 803.08. 68 bulls averaged 189.5 and per head average 1212.70. 36 steers averaged 205.7 and per head average 1270.33.

Vealers 1 Bel/B 1 Lim 1 Lim 2 Lim 4 Lim 1 Chey Steers 2 M/A 1 Santa 1 R/Ang Heifer 1 Ang R Atkinson, Darnum Beef Cows 1 Lim M&D Reynolds, Yinnar 1 Lim A Aitken, Korumburra 1 B/B R Franklin, Yinnar 1 Chey S&B Tumino, Lardner 1 Ang Landmark, Warragul 1 AngX D&E Peachy, Cloverlea Dairy Cows 1 Frn J Roberts, Yarragon 1 Frn R Cameron, Nilma 1 Frn D&C Currie, Bona Vista 2 Frn Hollydale Rural, Yinnar 3 Frn J Roberts, Yarragon 2 Frn Lancey Family Trust, Nyora 1 Frn Jayanal, Longwarry Bullocks 1 M/A 3 Frn 5 Frn 13 Frn

1 Frn Bulls 1 Lim 1 Ang 1 Frn 1 Frn 1 Frn 5 Frn 1 Frn

Brain & Thorson, P/W East R&J Buchanan, Bena IJ&ACN Hancock, P/W C&A Marson, Iona IJ&ACN Hancock, P/W Filsell & Smith, Ryanston

RC Thomas, Longwarry DJ&CA Cropley, Nilma Saxton & Waller, Yarragon C Thomas, Longwarry Lancey Family Trust, Nyora R Penney, Cloverlea C Thomas, Longwarry C Thomas, Longwarry

G&L Price, Trafalgar M&J Fusinato, Neerim Sth McFox P/L, Modella Wildwood Dairies, E/bank DC Currie, Bona Vista T Smallman, Yarragon M&J Winter, Warragul Sth

365 490 410 417 373 425

685 505 430

430

665 595 735 700 640 680

735 500 625 603 700 655 620

735 755 557 680 700

325.0 1186 315.0 1543 310.0 1271 300.0 1251 295.0 1098 285.0 1211

298.2 2042 290.0 1464 267.2 1148

267.2 1148

264.6 1759 244.2 1452 210.0 1543 210.0 1470 205.0 1312 202.0 1373

200.0 1470 199.2 996 186.6 1166 185.6 1118 184.6 1292 165.0 1080 161.2 999

271.2 1993 205.2 1549 206.2 1148 205.2 1395 200.0 1400

910 227.2 2067 890 221.2 1968 1025 208.6 2138 895 204.2 1827 860 198.6 1707 780 197.6 1541 930 196.2 1824 1. Scotts, 2. SEJ, 3.

NGL, 4. Landmark, 5. Elders. We have a Facebook page. Like and follow us on VLE Warragul.