EPA grant Midfield Meat works approval for new animal protein recovery facility at Warrnambool

The EPA granted a works approval permit to Midfield to construct the new plant adjacent to the existing abattoir on Scott Street.

EPA regualtory standards, assessment and permissioning executive director Tim Eaton said it would “only issue a works approval when it is confident that the proposal adequately minimises any risks of harm to the environment and public health, and fully complies with the Environment Protection Act, relevant regulations, policies and guidelines”.

“The decision comes following extensive public consultation including a consultation conference in Warrnambool on November 7 and the consideration of 15 submissions and two requests for more information from Midfield,” he said.

“We were conscious of concerns about odour and noise, which are amplified by the plant’s proximity to residential areas, and they were a key focus of EPA’s assessment, but were not the only potential impacts from the application that EPA reviewed.

“Such plants traditionally have a larger buffer zone to residential areas so EPA needed to be satisfied this project minimised the risk of offsite odour and noise and won’t result in amenity loss for the nearby community. 

“EPA’s assessment considered any potential risks to human health and the environment including emissions to air, greenhouse gas emission, noise, the wastewater treatment system, and operational contingencies.” 

Midfield Meat project manager Kevin Banner said the company was pleased the works approval had been accepted.

“We have received positive news from the EPA granting the works approval,” Mr Banner said.

“Obviously there are conditions that reinforce the quality of the build and infrastructure regulations to make this plant be successful. There is a significant amount of work we will now undertake to get it right and build it as promised.”

Mr Banner said the new protein recovery facility would provide significant energy savings to the main plant.

 “We look forward to getting on with the project,” he said. “This gives us the opportunity to decommission the old facility.”

Warrnambool City Council will now consider the planning application for the project to go ahead.