Kanmantoo & Callington (Neutrog)
Neutrog Holdings Pty Ltd (Neutrog) is located at Kanmantoo and is a manufacturer of biological fertilisers.
The company was first licensed by the EPA in 1995 to undertake composting works. In 2011 Neutrog ceased operations and surrendered its EPA licence.
In mid-2018 the company renewed composting operations at its Kanmantoo site to assist with the management of a disease which threatened the viability of the state’s poultry industry.
Accordingly, with oversight from PIRSA and Biosecurity SA, the EPA issued Emergency Authorisations to Neutrog to process contaminated poultry waste between late 2018 and late 2019.
EPA licence for composting
Composting is a ‘Prescribed Activity of Environmental Significance’ defined in Schedule 1 Part A, 3(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act). The Act requires these types of activities to be licensed and provides the EPA with a means of regulating such operations through licence conditions. An EPA licence may only be granted after development approval has been provided by the relevant development authority, which in this case is the Mount Barker District Council.
Once development approval was granted by the council, Neutrog applied to the EPA for a licence to conduct composting works at its Kanmantoo site.
Granting of the licence
In 2020, the EPA undertook public consultation in relation to Neutrog’s application. In accordance with statutory requirements, the EPA notified neighbouring properties directly via mail and published details of the application on its website.
An EPA licence was subsequently granted with a number of conditions placed on the company.
Licence inclusions
The licence includes conditions requiring the company to develop the following plans:
- odour management
- dust management
- community engagement
These conditions are enforceable and the EPA can take a number of different actions, including prosecution, if the licence conditions are not met.
The licence restricts operations in line with the current development approval.
Odour and dust
The EPA has conducted 5 site inspections since February 2020 as a result of community concern about odour and dust. An increased inspection schedule will be maintained until operations are satisfactory and community impacts resolved.
In May 2020 the EPA commenced odour monitoring in Kanmantoo and the surrounding area. In early December 2020 the EPA implemented a regular odour profiling program for Kanmantoo and Callington.
As at 8 July 2021, odour monitoring has been conducted 15 times in Kanmantoo, Callington and surrounding areas. Odour levels have not exceeded requirements of the EP Act and associated policies. However, very high odour levels have been detected at and around the facility. The EPA is planning on extending its monitoring activity to ensure longer periods of monitoring are undertaken to better capture community impacts.
The EPA has approved Neutrog’s odour management plan (OMP) and dust management plan (DMP). Implementation of these plans is ongoing.
Odour source identification, monitoring and testing are informing ongoing odour mitigation and management actions in accordance with the OMP.
Developing and implementing an odour environment improvement plan (EIP) is pending, in order to ensure odour emissions are prevented or minimised, and odour levels do not exceed requirements of the EP Act and associated policies.
Dust impacts have reduced following enclosure and process improvement of several identified dust sources. This includes installation of dust covers on feed hoppers of screening and mulching machines and additional cleaning of exhaust/ductwork associated with the pellet press.
All odour and dust complaints received are being investigated and onsite activities reviewed and improved in response.
Community updates
Further information
For all enquiries, please contact the EPA on (08) 8204 2004 or via email. This line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the case of an emergency. If the matter is not urgent you will have your call returned within business hours.
For health-related queries, please contact SA Health on (08) 8226 7100.
