The proposed site layout for the lagoons at ACM’s Girgarre factory. Source: CAF consulting.
Girgarre dairy processor ACM is planning to build two more storage pond dams on its property.
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The company will build a 52 Ml raw water storage lagoon, and a 52 Ml wastewater winter lagoon on land that is currently a farm paddock.
According to written plans currently before Campaspe Shire Council, a key reason for the development is odour mitigation.
ACM wants to work towards the installation of an anaerobic treatment plant to address any future high organic loads due to unforeseen product spills or losses.
To get the anaerobic project going, ACM said it was necessary to build new and larger capacity winter storages.
However, a neighbour of the business, Jim Stewart, is worried the works will not improve the odour problem emanating from the site.
Mr Stewart has complained to ACM and the EPA about the odour from the treatment pond which he said was sometimes so bad that his visiting grandchildren and great-grandchildren can’t stand it.
He said the EPA had told him they had been in contact with the factory and were working to resolve the problem.
Mr Stewart said the factory should not be allowed to put in any more ponds until the current odour problems had been addressed.
“The smell is so bad sometimes I wish I could sell the place, but I don’t see why I should move,” Mr Stewart said, who has lived at his Winter Rd address for 27 years.
According to the planning application, the company proposes the raw water lagoon will allow operations to continue during winter (May to August), when the Goulburn-Murray Water system is shut down.
The wastewater lagoon will handle waste over the winter months, prior to it being discharged onto a neighbouring farm property.
In the long term, the company proposes to create a covered anaerobic lagoon to enable the factory to eliminate odours associated with any spill events.
The odours would be contained under the cover and burnt off through a biogas flare.
The company consulted with local people through a meeting with the Girgarre Community Development organisation in February.
The planning application is currently with Campaspe Shire planning officers waiting on a decision.
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