Southern Meats Pty Ltd

23/05/25

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN IN THE GOULBURN COMMUNITY – ODOUR EVENTS – CAL Renewable energy project

This advisory is the final post relating to an odour emissions incident from the Southern Meats abattoir premises in April/May 2025.

This post is the final update on actions and progress toward the reduction and elimination of odour from the business premises. The advisory posts will only recommence if any negative events occur.

As previously advised, the on-premises covered anaerobic lagoon (CAL) biogas production, collapsed in the first half of April with an increase in acidity reducing the microbial population necessary for effective nutrient digestion in the wastewater. 

The waste water specialist advisor assisting the operator and SM management has collated data up to and including 18/05/25 analysing CAL conditions to assist with improved management of the influent, CAL and effluent to the aerobic ponds going forward. 

Due to the retention time of water in the CAL and loaded waste water already discharged to the aerobic ponds this improving health will not reduce odour to normal levels immediately. 

It could be a ten days to two weeks from now before aerobic water odour returns to normal levels. Over that period odour is expected to progressively diminish.

The EPA raised a Clean-up Notice (follow the link below) directing us to chart and execute a path forward to address residual odour emissions and mitigate against future events. 

The actions taken in association with the CAL operator from mid April until the COB today include:

Hiring an external wastewater specialist (iH2OM) to devise strategies to make the CAL healthy, treat loaded water discharged to the aerobic system and thereby reduce odour ASAP
The wastewater specialist drafted a peer reviewed strategy to address and rectify the source of odour emissions which was submitted to EPA (06/05/25)
Premise conducted a peer review of the draft wastewater improvement strategy and submitted a report with recommendations for improvement, to EPA, Southern Meats and iH2OM on 05/05/2025
iH2OM have produced an updated wastewater strategy embracing Premise recommendations. The updated strategy was submitted to EPA on 06/05/25.
SM have produced a document committing to the revised iH2OM wastewater strategy. The updated commitment to strategy was submitted to EPA on 06/05/25.
An odour specialist (The Odour Unit) reviewed odour source and impact and reviewed the odour reduction strategies of the wastewater specialist. The review is now complete and was submitted to EPA on 08/05/25.
SM have produced a document committing to the recommended revised strategies by the wastewater specialist & Premise and submitted to EPA. The updated commitment to the odour specialist strategy was submitted to EPA on 09/05/25.
Continuing to test and dose the CAL inflow water with magnesium hydroxide to assist in reaching and maintaining pH in the optimal range for CAL health
Setting up a new mini laboratory onsite (05/05/2025) to sample, test and adjust additives to inflows and internal segmented flows within the CAL 
Testing for BOD, COD and Dissolved Oxygen at selected points in the wastewater stream and feedback managing the system to keep these indicator levels in the targeted range 
Undertaking boundary and spot odour checks twice a day and logging the results of these checks including odours noted, wind speeds and directions in accordance with EPA FAOA principles
Advising the EPA (on request) of the findings of the odour checks noted in the line item above
Sheep processing numbers through the plant were reduced by 50% on Friday 2 May and Monday 5 May to reduce total volume and load into the CAL (thereby reducing discharge to the aerobic ponds) which allows oxidation to catch up in aerobic water
An additional aerator unit was installed (now operating) for the aerobic ponds to assist process (oxygenate) the legacy loaded wastewater that has been the likely primary source of odour in April 2025. This was installed by COB 07/05/2025.
Fat deposits (discharged from the CAL when unwell) skimmed off the first aerobic pond are being captured and reprocessed through the DAF from 08/05/2025. EPA have been advised in compliance with the Clean-up Notice and expert opinion was sought for reprocessing of fats. The skimming activity was undertaken for a significant period and a reduction in floating fat has been noted. 
Loaded wastewater was transferred to the southern irrigation area for immediate irrigation to reduce the volume of water being processed in the aeration pond near the abattoir
An accepted specialist has been commissioned to conduct an overall review of the incident and diagnose the root cause of the CAL becoming sick. This review will be submitted to EPA by the end of May 2025.
Once the incident assessment has been finalised Southern Meats management will review the findings and adjust the management strategy to mitigate against the odour event recurring.
Daily management meetings to discuss progress and adjust strategy as required
Continuing to post updates such as this on the website each working day to ensure our neighbours and the broader community are well informed and able to follow the progress toward fixing the issues at source 
 

We recognize and appreciated the forbearance of our community over the period of the recent odour event/s and encourage anyone affected by future odour to lodge a complaint on our website portal to assist us in doing a better job.

Yours sincerely,

Craig Newton

General Manager

Southern Meats

Clean-up Action Southern Meats

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Southern Meats Pty Ltd have strategically located their hi-tech abattoir in Goulburn, NSW, the heart of Australia's finest sheep country.  The region has a heritage steeped in the growth of Australia's famous golden fleece days. In the late 1860's, it was a bustling township serving as a commercial centre for a prosperous wool growing district. Goulburn is today just two hour's drive from Sydney's air and seaports.  It remains an important rural cross-roads providing Southern Meats with prime export product from the surrounding sheep growing areas. Its proximity to Sydney ensures the company's Fine Brand range of processed lamb, sheep and offal are easily accessible to worldwide markets.

The Southern Meats Company has joined with another Australian owned sheepmeat processor, the Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative Limited (WAMMCO).  Both companies share enviable reputations and brands in domestic and export markets.  By working together closely, the two companies can supply high volumes of premium quality product throughout the year.

Packed under the well-known Fine Brand label, Southern Meats' discerning customers are assured that our product is of the highest quality. Not only is the meat grown in the clean, healthy environment of Australia's beautiful Southern Highlands region but it is processed in a state-of-the-art operation that meets with the stringent standards of the E.C. and USDA. The plant processes sheep and lambs utilising the latest hi-tech automated equipment-slaughtering, boning, chilling, freezing and rendering by-products. All stock are slaughtered to Halal practices with strict hygiene and quality control applying to all aspects of the production line.

Southern Meats prides itself on the plant's flexibility to provide you with a wide range of primal cuts and retail ready packs. Meat is packed, wrapped and labelled to your requirements.  We export to customers in the Middle East, South-East Asia, Korea, Japan, UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Africa, Mauritius and the Pacific Basin with a full range of chilled and frozen bone in and boneless mutton and lamb cuts, as well as assorted offals.

As one of Australia's leading sheep meat exporters, Southern Meats dedication to quality in all aspects of production assures you buy only Australia's best when you buy Fine Brand sheep and lamb meats.