Woolgoolga Farmers Reminded of Environmental Obligations

Farmers on the Coffs Coast are being reminded to follow best management farming practices following a compliance crackdown by the NSW Environment Protection Authority and Coffs Harbour City Council.

This month, EPA officers joined Council staff, to inspect a number of horticulture farms in the Woolgoolga and Sandy Beach areas.

At a Sandy Beach blueberry farm, EPA and Council officers found multiple breaches in relation to the owner’s storage and disposal of pesticide and chemical containers.

The EPA issued a Clean-up Notice requiring the property owner to manage and dispose of all waste drums and containers in accordance with the law and provide EPA with evidence when the work was complete.  

EPA's Brett Nudd, said the property owner was in breach of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act and the Pesticides Act.

“Officers found pesticide and chemical containers which were littered across the property with some containers unlabelled, others partially filled with liquid and some containers left open,” Mr Nudd said.

While fines could have been issued in response to these offences, in this instance the EPA has determined to issue a Clean-up Notice.

EPA and Council officers also visited another farm in response to public complaints about the burning of plastics and waste material on Newmans Road.

During the inspection, officers found evidence of melted plastics on the ground and a large pile of partially burnt materials including plastics, tyres, plastic strips, plastic sheeting, plastic pipes, white goods and a trailer.

Coffs Harbour City Council’s Robert Percival said the burning was an offence under the Protection of Environment (Clean Air) Regulation.

Council has issued a Penalty Notice and a Clean-up Notice to the property owner to remove the waste from the affected site.

“Together with the EPA we are reminding farmers about the importance of managing their farming operations in an appropriate manner,” Mr Percival said.

“Failure to appropriately manage waste from farming operations can result in substantial financial penalties to property owners or individuals,” he said.