A new green future for Kimberly-Clark in SA’s South East
It was a landmark occasion for the South East when Kimberly-Clark Australia’s (KCA) Millicent Mill ended its 50-year indenture and transitioned to an environmental licence under the Environment Protection Act last month.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Chief Executive Tony Circelli formally presented the new licence to the mill’s manager Scott Whicker and commended KCA for making significant environmental improvements over the past decade.
State Treasurer Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP, Minister for Investment and Trade Hon Martin Hamilton-Smith MP, and Robbert Rietbroek, Vice President and Managing Director for Kimberly-Clark Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands attended the event with local Members of Parliament, local government representatives and senior KCA officials also present.
The KCA paper mill near Millicent has operated under a 50-year indenture, issued by the State in 1964. The indenture outlined various aspects of the operation including rights to discharge all effluent into the adjacent drain which flows to Lake Bonney.
Mr Circelli said that the EPA has been working closely with KCA since 2002, with significant progress over the last five years, in preparation for the end of the indenture.
“Kimberly-Clark has not only dramatically reduced the volume of its wastewater discharges, but the quality of that water has improved greatly, with a 95 percent reduction in phosphorous load and an 89 percent reduction in nitrogen load in recent years,” said Mr Circelli.
Lake Bonney is South Australia’s largest freshwater lake and a precious natural resource.
Other significant improvements are:
- wastewater discharge decreased from a peak of 35 megalitres a day in 2010, to currently around 12 megalitres per day
- a 60% decrease in suspended solids
- a change in water colour which signifies improved physical, chemical and bacteriological conditions, from 129 HU (Hazen units) to 14 HU (water colour).
Mr Circelli also acknowledged the notable improvement in biodiversity.
Aquatic plants around the fringes of the lake have increased, and there has been an increasing numbers of insects, crustaceans and fish including two threatened fish species in the lake—the Southern Pygmy Perch and Dwarf Galaxias.
“These improvements in environmental quality have led to the re‑opening of the lake to human-powered craft such as canoes and tinnies. This was a key environmental objective sought by the local community and points to recognition of the lake’s re-emergence for recreational activities for the benefit of the community,” said Mr Circelli