The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria slapped Echuca company Riverside Meats with more than $7500 in fines after it failed to act to further secure waste water, putting the Murray River at risk of contamination. 

EPA North West Manager Danny Childs said the company failed to have adequate backup measures in place to prevent waste water used in abattoir operations escaping from a tank at its site – even after it had been given notice by the EPA.

“If the tank at the Riverside Meats site were to fail, this could cause significant damage to the environment and waterways as it is situated just 50 metres away from the Murray River,” Mr Childs said.

Mr Childs said the company had failed to install secondary measures, despite being given “a clear timeframe” following an inspection of the site earlier this year.

The Mount Alexander Shire Council was also fined $7500, for overfilling cells at its Castlemaine Landfill by 18,000m³ of waste – pushing “the heights well above what is approved under its EPA licence”. 

Mr Childs warned overfilling the waste site could have environmental impacts, such as groundwater contamination. 

“If additional wastes are deposited it puts a cell’s engineering integrity at risk and could potentially risk contaminating groundwater from leachate escaping from the landfill,” Mr Childs said.

But Mount Alexander Shire Council CEO Phil Rowland move to quell fears of potential environmental damage from over-stacking the cell. 

“Council has clear advice that there is no risk to the environment,” Mr Rowland said. 

“The cell that is now filled...it was commissioned four or five years ago and built to the highest standards...there is a synthetic membrane and so there is no possibility of leachate [spilling].”

He said moving forward the had worked closely with the EPA to seek approval for an amended profile and amended licence. 

A new cell had been constructed and will be operational in the coming weeks. 

Mr Childs said each landfill cell was designed to hold a certain amount and the council was now working on assessing its options – including the possibility that the current landfill cell could handle the increased waste volume.

“The council voluntarily ceased accepting waste at the landfill until such time as these investigations and assessments can be completed and approval is given to amend the EPA licence,” Mr Childs said.

Riverside Meats told the Bendigo Advertiser they “wished not to respond” to the EPA’s findings. 

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