Revelations about permit processes for human and fish waste processing have sparked anger and alarm

Revelations about the permit process for a controlled waste facility in the Derwent Valley have angered locals and raised fears about biosolid composting plans elsewhere in the state.

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A LEGAL loophole that saw a sewage and fish waste composting facility approved next to a river in the Derwent Valley without residents being advised has raised concerns about similar proposals.

Farmers and other users of the Plenty River are growing increasingly angry about a lack of action and information since a wastewater spill from a Glenfern composting facility killed more than 130,000 fry and juvenile fish at the historic Salmon Ponds hatchery in September.

Now the state’s environmental watchdog, the Environment Protection Authority, has revealed there was no requirement to alert residents when the composting site was upgraded from green waste to fish waste and sewage biosolids in 2014.

The revelation has sparked outrage among locals and politicians, who are demanding answers about why the permit variation was granted and why they have not been updated on the results of water testing after the spill on September 23.

“Residents downstream who rely on the clean waters of the Plenty River for drinking and farming are being treated with disdain by the EPA, and should be given weekly status updates on river water quality and the investigation process,” Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said.

Glenfern resident Shane Eiszele said he had previously complained to the EPA about foul smells emanating from the composting facility, which is upstream from TasWater’s Bryn Estyn plant, and he questioned why there was no opportunity for public scrutiny when the composting facility changed from being a processor of pine bark, grape skins and paper sludge to one handling treated human waste sludge, macerated fish and other controlled waste.

“It’s just not right, especially when it’s so close to the water treatment plant. That’s the drinking water for Southern Tasmania. It’s beyond belief really,” Mr Eiszele said.

Glenfern resident Shane Eiszele. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

The EPA said the permit variation was issued in 2014 “after a series of successful trials” and the issuing of “stricter conditions relating to leachate control and site hygiene”.

“No representations were made during the original permit application process and in accordance with the Act, no broader consultation was undertaken in relation to the variation of the permit,” the EPA said.

The Derwent Valley Council said that in fact one representation was received regarding the then-green waste composting facility, which was approved by the council in 2009.

Mayor Ben Shaw said it was disappointing the EPA had the power to grant a permit variation without consulting the council and local residents.

“It’s quite disappointing from our point of view that we don’t have a say,” Mr Shaw said.

“In September we didn’t even know there had been an event in the area. We found out about it from local residents.”

A controlled waste composting facility at Glenfern near the Plenty River. Picture Chris Kidd

The operator of the composting facility, Jenkins Hire, has been contacted multiple times for comment.

The EPA said it had received no further complaints since the September incident, but an audit had since been carried out at the site.

“The EPA is satisfied that the most concerning aspects of waste management practices on the land have ceased and is in discussions with the landowner regarding management practices associated with land application of waste.”

The Plenty River situation has alarmed residents of St Leonard’s in Launceston, who are fighting a proposal for a biosolids composting facility in their area.

“We’ve been told no animal waste will be processed up here, but once they’re granted a permit, it’s only a slight variation,” said local farmer Hayley Adams.

Windermere MLC Ivan Dean has been pushing for more information in parliament and said the legislation needed tightening to give residents more say.

Dr Woodruff said the legal loophole was “gobsmacking”.

“Once a business has been granted a permit to operate, it seems it can get a ‘variation’ to do almost anything and the public would never know — until a disaster like 130,000 dead fish in the Plenty River occurs,” Dr Woodruff said.

Tasmanian Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff.

Upper House MP for Derwent Craig Farrell wrote to Environment Minister Roger Jaensch in March seeking answers about the amount of liquid being dumped at the Glenfern site.

“I have had various representations to my office expressing concern about the stench around the place and long term residents have been expressing their concerns,” Mr Farrell said.

While he too has been provided with limited information, given the “ongoing investigation”, Mr Farrell said locals deserved at least some information about the safety of the river, which is used for agricultural, household and even drinking water.

“I understand the need for a proper and thorough investigation but a lot of these concerns date back to before the September event,” Mr Farrell said.

“This isn’t something where we can put our fingers in our ears. It’s not going to go away.”

Derwent Valley vet Libby Cooper, whose family property is on the Plenty, said she was “stunned” by the lack of scrutiny of the 2014 permit variation and she urged the EPA to release details of how environmental risks were assessed at the time.

“I would have thought the topography of the site would preclude the safe composting of high grade waste,” she said.

She grew up swimming in the Plenty and is dismayed by increased algae levels in her family’s favourite water hole, which is just downstream from the composting site property.

“I’ve grown up on this river, swimming in it in summer, fishing in it and having platypus swimming next to us,” Dr Cooper said.

“Now I’d be questioning whether it’s safe for my children to swim in it.”

Derwent Valley vet and Plenty River resident Libby Cooper. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Mr Eiszele, whose family has lived in the area since the 1800s, said his property was home to more than 100 bird species, but his enjoyment of the property had waned in recent years.

“Our biggest problem is the smell. The stench is horrible. We like to sit here and watch the birds, but when we get the wind we can’t sit outside, it’s absolutely putrid,” he said.