The Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has slapped a fine of almost $10,000 on a dairy that really cheesed it off.
Yarra Valley Dairy of Yering has been ordered to fork out $9,087 over a failure to comply with the EPA’s instructions to manage the smelly wastewater from its cheesemaking.
The “sour milk odour with earthy characteristics” was still persisting despite Yarra Valley Dairy having been given several months to sort it out, and EPA Northern Metropolitan Regional Manager Jeremy Settle said that the dairy hadn’t put into place all of the measures in its management plan, causing “unreasonable impact” to the community.
“The message to all businesses is that any EPA remedial notice gives a set of instructions with a clear deadline, and must be taken seriously.
“It’s there to protect the community and the environment, and everyone running a business must understand their responsibilities,” he said.
And after all, the EPA is just doing its job – they’re not muensters over there. We may be going out on a limburger, but frankly, if Yarra Valley Dairy wants to keep bringing in the cheddar, it should take this gouda advice: if you can’t edam, join ‘em.
