The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has received and is investigating an increase in odour complaints from residents in the Rockingham and Mandurah area.
I have had direct concerns raised regarding the odour experienced and to keep you updated, I have escalated the concerns with the Hon Reece Whitby, MLA Minister for Environment.
The Minister’s office has advised us that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has been actively investigating these odour complaints, which included a significant number directly received from the community.
Compliance officers from the Department have undertaken multiple odour patrols in the community last week and have been able to trace the source of the odour to two premises.
The Department is taking the appropriate actions with these premises to address these odour emissions.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is carrying out odour surveys in the south portion of the City of Rockingham (Secret Harbour and Golden Bay area) and Mandurah area, including Singleton, Lakelands and surrounding suburbs.
Surveys across local licensed facilities (e.g. wastewater treatment plants, waste transfer stations, landfills, composting operations and piggeries), as well as several natural sources of odour including Black Swan Lake, Goegrup Lake and sections of the Serpentine River with potential to contribute to odour emissions, are being investigated.
The outcome of the odour surveys and inspections will inform any further investigations.
The department is currently investigating a significant increase of odour complaints received from the community in the Nambeelup area in 2024.
The department takes odour complaints seriously and understands that odour can cause significant impacts on communities.
In response, the department is undertaking targeted odour surveys and inspections of multiple regulated premises in the Nambeelup area as well as several natural sources which have the potential to be contributing to the odour. This work is taking place during both the day and nighttime to identify the odour source/s.
The department’s investigation is active and ongoing. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
The department is grateful for community reporting of ongoing odour impacts as it aids the investigation and identification of odour sources.
Community members and residents are reminded that it is important to report odour impacts at the time that they occur by calling the Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782. The online reporting tool can be used to lodge complaints after the impact has occurred.
What is happening now?
The department is currently investigating a significant increase of odour complaints received from the community in the Nambeelup area in 2024.
The department takes odour complaints seriously and understands that odour can cause significant impacts on communities.
The department responded quickly to community complaints and has conducted extensive field odour surveys, both during the day and at night. During surveys on 15 and 16 February 2024, the department identified the activities of two companies in Nambeelup (C-Wise and CM Farms) to be the primary sources of the odours identified in the community.
C-Wise accepts liquid waste and produces compost, while CM Farms operates a piggery.
Following discussions with both parties, the department issued an Environmental Protection Notice (EPN) to each company requiring them to investigate the identified odour and rectify any identified operational issues as quickly as possible.
C-Wise is required to:
- take immediate action to reduce the risk of odour emissions from the liquid waste storage and treatment ponds
- conduct investigations into liquid waste storage and treatment ponds at the premises to ensure effective control of odour emissions from the ponds
- engage an odour expert to conduct an odour analysis considering all waste types received at the premises
- comply with required timeframes, considerations and reporting requirements set out in the EPN, and provide details of any improvements that can be made to operations on the premises to reduce unreasonable odour emissions.
View the C-Wise EPN.
CM Farms is required to:
- engage a wastewater expert to undertake an investigation into the performance of the wastewater treatment ponds on the premises and provide details of factors that are likely to be contributing to the unreasonable odour emissions from the ponds
- identify any improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and wastewater treatment ponds necessary to reduce the potential for unreasonable odour emissions
- comply with required timeframes, considerations and reporting requirements set out in the EPN for assessing the performance of the ponds.
View the CM Farms EPN.
The businesses are required to provide preliminary investigation results within 14 days of the issuing of the EPN.
The department is grateful for community reporting of ongoing odour impacts as it aids the investigation and identification of odour sources.
Community members and residents are reminded that it is important to report odour impacts at the time that they occur by calling the Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782. The online reporting tool can be used to lodge complaints after the impact has occurred.
More information
This page will be updated as new information becomes available. If you have any questions relating to this issue, please email [email protected]