Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has sent a message to all Victorian businesses that if they don’t comply with environmental laws, it will take direct enforcement action.
On Wednesday, 1 June 2022, in one of the largest operations of its kind, a multi-agency investigation has seen up to 25 officers involved in a coordinated blitz of businesses to gather information and evidence.
Led by investigators from EPA’s Environmental Crime Branch and environment protection officers from its North West Victoria regional office, EPA targeted locations in the Echuca area guided from the air by drone surveillance.
The local community has complained about long term, severe odour issues and potential waste crime.
The investigation centred around businesses involved in the meat and livestock industry, which for legal reasons, cannot be named.
“We have received many complaints particularly about odour that has been impacting the local community. Severe odour issues have the capacity to affect quality of life, even where they don’t directly impact health,” explained EPA CEO Lee Miezis.
“Wednesday’s operation took many weeks of planning. It was executed unannounced and was highly successful in gathering information that will help us proceed with our investigations. They were a great example of how the agencies work together to gain successful outcomes.
“This is the largest single deployment of EPA officers and other agencies in an operation of this kind. It comes despite EPA trying to work with the businesses to rectify issues. It’s a message to business that they have had time to comply with the new Environmental Protection Act. If they won’t, this is the kind of action we can take.”
To view the video coverage of the operation https://youtu.be/AnpFTy22nkA
