Recent inspections in South Dandenong have identified several sites potentially responsible for creating odours that have plagued the area.

A team of 14 EPA and two City of Greater Dandenong Council officers conducted the inspections over three days at the start of August in response to odour reports received from residents in the Keysborough/Dandenong area.

Following the inspections, eight businesses were given advice about how to improve their environmental management.

Some of these businesses will also be issued with an EPA Notice requiring them to improve odour and environmental management at their sites.

The sites inspected were chosen based on information gathered from pollution reports, industries  known to create odour, advice from our odour experts, as well as local EPA and council intelligence.

“Odour is one of the most common reasons people contact EPA to report pollution and something we take seriously given potential risk of harm to human health and the environment,” EPA Southern Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Manager Viranga Abeywickrema said.

“We’ll provide advice and monitor to make sure issues are being addressed, but if a business won’t comply, they can incur some strong penalties. This includes up to $1.8 million fines for companies and $360,000 for individuals.”

For more information, visit /www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/odour/advice-for-businesses/control-details/effective-odour-capture-system