Effluent spill proves costly

EPA Victoria has fined a Poowong landholder $1817 over a spill of dairy effluent that flowed through a neighbouring property and into Pheasant Creek.

EPA Gippsland regional manager Zac Dornom saids the investigation began with a report from a community member in August last year.

“This case should be a warning to every landholder that mismanaged dairy effluent is a waste of good fertiliser for your own pasture and a hazard to the environment, and can be a nasty surprise for your neighbours,” Mr Dornom said.

“This badly maintained effluent system, and a belated effort to clean it out, combined to put effluent sludge right where it had the potential to do the most harm,” he said.

EPA officers found the property’s two-pond effluent management system appeared to have been left without desludging for some years. The sludge had finally been excavated and then left by the side of the ponds.

EPA officers said the land was steep, and rain sent the sludge flowing down the hill, across paddocks, through a neighboring properly and into the nearby creek.

“Regular maintenance over preceding years or an effective system for containing the sludge during the excavation would have prevented the spill, saved the landholder a fine, and protected the environment and neighbouring farms.

“Without those sensible measures, it has been left to EPA to sanction the responsible landholder and ensure they take actions to prevent any further spills,” he said.

Since the spill, EPA officers have inspected the property several times, provided compliance advice to the landholder, and required proper maintenance and upgrades.

The landholder has been fined for the unlawful deposit of effluent waste.

Community members can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24 hour hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution