Overview

Applicant: Water Sustainability Farms Pty Ltd

Activity site: Lanes Avenue, Quantong, VIC 3401

Application number: 1004341

What does the application propose?

WSF is proposing to construct solar drying evaporation basins and a sludge drying pad for the processing of food manufacturing by-products at Lanes Avenue, Quantong VIC. Two waste streams are proposed to be managed and treated by WSF – with on average 57,000 L/day of brine (saline waste) and up to 5 m3/day of dewatered sludge proposed to be received at the premises.

WSF proposes to concentrate the brine through solar evaporation in four drying basins. The sludge is proposed to be dried in windrows on a sludge drying pad. The dried sludge is proposed to be used locally for agricultural purposes and the super-saline waste will be disposed of the landfill post-evfaporation.

A copy of the works approval application can be viewed in the ‘Supporting documents’ section

Change of proposed activity scope

Following community engagement and consideration of public submissions, EPA received a letter from Water Sustainability Farm on 24 May 2021 informing of a change in scope of their application. The change of scope includes the removal of dewatered sludge management from the proposal. Dewatered sludge will no longer be assessed, leaving the construction of solar evaporation basins within the scope of the assessment.

In addition, road access for the proposed activity has been changed from Lanes Avenue to Linders Road.

Latest updates

Development licence issued

On 29 March 2022, a development licence was issued to WSF under section 69(1)(a) of the Act. The development licence is subject to conditions. The application is proposed to be undertaken in a way that meets environmental standards.

EPA assessed the application against all requirements under section 69(3) of the Act, focusing on potential leakages, their impact on groundwater, surface water, as well as potential noise and odour concerns. 

It was estimated that the proposed activities of the ponds were subject to separation distances that would be consistent with guidelines for noise and odour impacts (EPA Publication 1826.4 & 1518).

Potential surface water issues were addressed through a turkey nest design which would contain 1 in 100 year rainfalls and insure no waste water will overflow affecting surroundings.

EPA has set conditions that will ensure the design of the clay liner are consistent with best practice (Landfill BPEM, 2015; EPA Publication 788.3), the clay liner will be designed to a high permeability standard which will minimise seepage, minimising harm to groundwater and potential soil salinisation.

If you object to the issuing of the Development Licence or its conditions, you may have the decision reviewed at VCAT by applying in writing within 15 business days of the date of issue to:

Registrar, Planning and Environment Division

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)

7th Floor, 55 King Street, Melbourne

An application fee may be applicable when lodging an appeal with VCAT. Contact VCAT on 03 9628 9777 for further details on fees associated with an appeal.

A copy of the appeal should also be forwarded, within seven days of lodgement, to:

Manager, Development Assessments Unit

Environment Protection Authority Victoria

GPO Box 4395, Melbourne 3001

Supporting documents

You can view the development licence application and supporting documentation below.

Development licence application

• WSF works approval application (redacted) (PDF 17,130KB)

Development licence decision

• DL000300011 - Statutory Document (PDF 370KB)
• WSF Assessment Summary (PDF 199KB)
• WSF Assessment Report (PDF 1,628KB)

Timeline

• 15 February 2021
  • Application received.

• 8 March 2021
  • Application accepted.
• 2 April 2021
  • Public submissions open.
• 2 April 2021
  • Q&A open.
• 23 April 2021
  • Q&A closed.
• 23 April 2021
  • Statutory clock paused - awaiting further information from the applicant.
• 7 May 2021
  • Public submissions close.
• 26 May 2021
  • 20B conference held.
• 01 July 2021
  • Additional information requested for assessment of application for a development licence.
• 28 March 2022
  • Receipt of additional information.
• 29 March 2022
  • EPA approved the development licence application.

Make a submission

Submissions for this development licence application are now closed.

Collection notice

EPA is committed to protecting the personal information it collects in carrying out its regulatory functions in accordance with its Privacy Policy and the Victorian Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. The submission you provide to EPA will be used to identify community concerns regarding an application for a development licence.

Your submission will be de-identified and provided to the applicant to give the applicant an opportunity to address the concerns raised. EPA will then complete its assessment of the application, considering all the submissions it has received and any applicant responses. Your de-identified submission will also be made available on this website.

To protect the privacy of individuals, EPA will remove personal information (for example, name and contact details) from the submissions it receives. Personal information will be retained by EPA so that it may contact you to clarify your submission if necessary or to provide you with updates regarding EPA’s assessment. If you do not wish to be identified, please ensure there is no other information in your submission that could identify you or other individuals.

Please note, if all requested information is not provided, we will not be able to process your submission. If you do not provide your e-mail address, we will not be able to identify your submission, should you wish to access it, make a correction, or require technical support.

For more information on how EPA handles the personal information it collects in carrying out its regulatory functions, please refer to our privacy policy or, for any other questions, please contact our Privacy Officer by email at privacyofficer@epa.vic.gov.au.