The Environment Protection Authority responded to 722 pollution reports in the North West region, which includes Bendigo, in 2016-17.
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The total was the second lowest in the state, ahead of the North East region, where the agency responded to 634 reports last financial year.
Only four of the reports in the North West region – which also includes the central Victorian municipalities of Loddon, Campaspe, Buloke, Central Goldfields, Mount Alexander and the Macedon Ranges – were classified as “emergencies”, fewer than anywhere else in Victoria.
The number of odour reports was far higher than any other complaint, at 293, ahead of waste at 135 and water at 94.
There were also 67 business notifications, 54 dust complaints, 47 noise complaints and 28 smoke complaints.
Across the state there was a total of 11,419 reports made to the environmental watchdog in 2016-17, up from 11,012 in the previous year.
EPA acting chief executive officer, Tim Eaton, noted that figures showed an increase in pollution reports in 2017 and urged the public to continue to use the organisation’s 24-hour hotline to report suspected pollution events.
“The public are our eyes and ears and the best resource we have for detecting and responding to pollution and waste incidents in real time,” he said.
The figures are contained in the EPA’s annual report, which Mr Eaton said also highlighted “a year which saw the beginning of the most comprehensive reform and transformation program since EPA’s establishment in 1971”.
Mr Eaton said the reform program would ensure the EPA was equipped to deal with emerging challenges, including growing pressure on the landscape, waterways and air from population growth, the changing economy and climate change.
“In 2016-17, we developed a five-year plan – Our Environment, Our Health – to guide our work and ensure we deliver the greatest possible service for Victorians and their environment,” he said.
“This plan sets our strategic direction and will help EPA become a more modern and agile organisation and a world-class regulator of pollution and waste.”
Mr Eaton said as well as beginning to deliver its reform program, in 2016-17 the EPA “continued to provide a strong front line response to local pollution and waste issues and emergency incidents”.
To report suspected pollution, call the EPA on 1300 EPAVIC (372 842).
