EPA

  • More illegal water releases imminent

    More illegal water releases imminent

    Coliban Water has issued a statement admitting it may be forced to make further non-compliant wastewater releases from its Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant to the Campaspe River in coming weeks. The admission follows a similar crisis in June this year when CW began unlicensed emergency discharges of thousands of litres of undiluted wastewater to the…

  • Residents fight Campaspe River discharge plan

    Residents fight Campaspe River discharge plan

    Landowners along the Campaspe River are fighting a plan by Coliban Water to amend its EPA licence to allow it to continue releasing wastewater from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant to the river, but at a reduced dilution ratio. Coliban Water project director Tony Kelly confirmed that Coliban Water had formally requested the EPA approve…

  • Wastewater to be released to Deep Creek at Romsey

    Wastewater to be released to Deep Creek at Romsey

    A proposed discharge of low-grade recycled wastewater into Deep Creek at Romsey has been upgraded following community backlash. Western Water aims to release 300 megalitres of recycled Class B water over two years to discharge excess wastewater that cannot be stored at its local Portingale Lane plant. General manager Graham Holt said the planned discharge…

  • New powers for EPA

    Victoria’s environment protection laws are being changed to strengthen the Environment Protection Authority’s enforcement powers. From July 1, 2020, the Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018 will come into effect and will focus on preventing waste and pollution impacts rather than managing those impacts after they have occurred. The new Act gives the EPA, as the…

  • River warning lifted

    River warning lifted

    A health warning applied to the Campaspe River between Kyneton and Lake Eppalock since early June was lifted on Sunday afternoon by the Environment Protection Authority. The warning had been issued after Coliban Water admitted it had been forced to make daily unauthorised releases of water unfit for stock and domestic use to the river…

  • From EPA exec to Coliban Water chief

    From EPA exec to Coliban Water chief

    An executive director of the Environment Protection Authority will be the next managing director of Coliban Water. Damian Wells, from Bendigo, will take on the role from August 5. “Damian’s depth of experience in aligned sectors working with regional and urban communities made him a stand-out candidate to lead Coliban Water,” said board chairperson Lucy…

  • Council urges EPA action

    Macedon Ranges Shire Council will write to the Environment Protection Authority expressing concern for Coliban Water’s continuing discharge of diminished quality wastewater into the Campaspe River and lack of consultation with council and the community regarding the discharges. A Notice of Motion put forward by Cr Roger Jukes was supported unanimously at last week’s council…

  • Irrigation plan a silver bullet?

    Irrigation plan a silver bullet?

    A plan to dispose of excess wastewater from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant has been hatched by Coliban Water in partnership with major trade waste producer, Hardwicks Meatworks. The project aims to prevent any further release of diminished quality water to the Campaspe River, following Coliban Water’s admission it had been forced to make unauthorised…

  • EPA investigates waste discharges

    EPA investigates waste discharges

    The Environment Protection Authority has issued health warnings for residents and is investigating after Coliban Water began emergency discharges of Class C recycled wastewater from its Kyneton wastewater treatment plant to the Campaspe River last Friday. The releases will impact landowners along the river downstream of the plant who draw water for stock and domestic…