19 February 2018
The NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a penalty infringement notice to Tweed Shire Council for an alleged failure by the Council to comply with the conditions of its environmental protection licence (EPL) that relates to the Council’s operation of the Banora Point Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Council holds an EPL that allows the release of treated wastewater into Terranora Creek. Due to infrastructure control issues, partially treated wastewater that exceeded limits prescribed by Council’s EPL was discharged to the waterway between 5 – 8 November 2017.
“As soon as our staff became aware of this issue, they worked immediately to limit the release of effluent and implemented an emergency response. The Council also undertook significant operational works to ensure that all subsequent effluent released was compliant with licence requirements,” Director Engineering David Oxenham said.
Subsequent to the event, Council has undertaken an incident cause analysis and has implemented key findings to reduce the risks of a similar event in the future.
“We have made improvements to our mechanical and electrical controls at the site as well as delivered additional training to operational staff.”
Council operates eight wastewater treatment plants across the shire, treating approximately 7800 million litres of wastewater each year.
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