Woodlawn Eco Precinct, Tarago
Information about the EPA licensed facilities operated by Veolia Environmental Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd (Veolia) at the Woodlawn Eco Precinct in Tarago NSW.
Water sampling - Woodlawn Eco Precinct
Background
In 2024, the EPA attached a Pollution Reduction Program (PRP) to the Woodlawn Landfill licence, which required Veolia to prepare a Hydrogeological Risk Assessment (HRA). The HRA was submitted to the EPA in late October 2024. It identified potential groundwater seepage pathways from two wastewater collection dams at the Woodlawn Landfill.
During the same month, the EPA conducted surface water sampling at the Woodlawn Eco Precinct in response to the risk of an overflow event from leachate storage dams within the Precinct. This round of testing included surface water sampling at potential receiving waterways known as Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek.
Results
Surface water from Allianoyonyiga Creek was sampled at one location northwest of the Woodlawn Landfill, within the boundaries of the Woodlawn Eco Precinct. Surface water from Crisps Creek was sampled at one location southeast of the Woodlawn Landfill within the boundaries of the Precinct.
Sampling results for Allianoyonyiga and Crisps creeks are below current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines health-based limits, noting that neither creek is a direct source of drinking water.
Testing found exceedances of the 95% guideline value for the protection of freshwater species for zinc in Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek. Aluminium was also above this guideline level in Allianoyonyiga Creek.
Levels of PFOS (one of the group of PFAS chemicals) that do not exceed any current guidelines were detected in Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek, noting PFAS in the environment does not necessarily indicate that there is a health risk, however, identifying sites that require investigation is an important precaution to reduce the risk of community and environmental exposure to PFAS.
Table 1: Surface water sampling - Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek contains the sample results from surface water testing undertaken in October 2024. These results have been listed against the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the Default Guideline Values for the 95% protection of freshwater species and the draft Livestock Drinking Water Guidelines.
In response to these findings, the EPA will be conducting a surface water and groundwater monitoring program in May 2025 to assess waterways, including Crisps Creek and Allianoyonyiga Creek, as well as Veolia groundwater bores. We will also be requiring Veolia to undertake further monitoring to explore the feasibility of options to address the possible seepage from dams on the premises.
Further information about the testing results can be found below.
Questions and answers
In February 2024, the EPA attached a Pollution Reduction Program (PRP) to the Woodlawn Landfill licence, which required Veolia to prepare a Hydrogeological Risk Assessment (HRA). The HRA submitted to the EPA in October 2024 identified potential groundwater seepage pathways from two wastewater collection dams at the Woodlawn Landfill.
The NSW EPA conducted surface water sampling at the Woodlawn Eco Precinct in October 2024 in response to the risk of an overflow event from leachate storage dams within the Precinct. Surface water from potential receiving waterways, known as Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek, was sampled as part of this program.
Surface water from Allianoyonyiga Creek was sampled at one location northwest of the Woodlawn Landfill, within the boundaries of the Woodlawn Eco Precinct. Surface water from Crisps Creek was sampled at one location southeast of the Woodlawn Landfill, also within the boundaries of the Precinct.
Sampling results for Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek are below current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines health-based limits, noting that neither creek is a direct source of drinking water. NSW Health advises that water from rivers and creeks should not be used for drinking or cooking without appropriate treatment.
Testing found exceedances of the 95% guideline value for the protection of freshwater species for zinc in Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek. Aluminium was also above this guideline level in Allianoyonyiga Creek. Elevated levels of metals are not necessarily unexpected in streams and creeks that flow through rural environments.
The 95% guideline value for the protection of freshwater species refers to the concentration of a toxicant in water that is expected to protect 95% of the aquatic species in a given ecosystem. These guideline values are determined through laboratory tests and species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). In many cases, the 95% species protection guideline value is used for slightly to moderately disturbed systems.
Levels of PFOS (one of the group of PFAS chemicals) that do not exceed any current guidelines were detected in Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek, noting PFAS in the environment does not necessarily indicate that there is a health risk, however, identifying sites that require investigation is an important precaution to reduce the risk of community and environmental exposure to PFAS.
Surface water samples taken from Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek exceeded the draft Livestock Drinking Water Guidelines (LDWG’s) for total dissolved solids (salinity). The draft LDWG’s for poultry were exceeded for magnesium and sulphate in both creeks. The level of sulphate exceeded the draft LDWG’s in Allianoyonyiga Creek, and the level of magnesium recorded in Allianoyonyiga Creek exceeded the draft LDWG’s for lactating cows and ewes with lambs. There are no livestock and irrigation water guidelines for PFAS.
To help us fully understand what the situation is, including identifying the source of the contamination, we’ll be conducting a surface water and groundwater monitoring program which will commence in May. It will assess receiving waterways, including Crisps Creek and Allianoyonyiga Creek, as well as Veolia groundwater bores.
We want to reassure the community that while there is no immediate risk we will be doing further work to make sure we understand the situation.
Contamination is below current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines health-based limits, noting that neither creek is a direct source of drinking water.
NSW Health advises that water from rivers and creeks should not be used for drinking or cooking without appropriate treatment. Untreated water may contain disease causing micro-organisms, chemical contaminants or algal blooms. Find more information about surface water and groundwater from NSW Health | Drinking water.
To help us fully understand the situation, we’ll be conducting a surface water and groundwater monitoring program to assess receiving waterways, including Crisps Creek and Allianoyonyiga Creek, as well as Veolia groundwater bores. This program will commence in May to determine whether there are any elevated levels offsite and to inform next steps. We will also be requiring Veolia to undertake further monitoring to explore the feasibility of options to address potential seepage from dams on the premises.
We will continue to provide updates via our website and through the Veolia Community Liaison Committee.
The EPA’s surface water sampling at the Woodlawn Eco Precinct found small detections of PFAS and metals in Crisps Creek and Allianoyonyiga Creek. Levels are below current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines health-based limits, noting that neither creek is a direct source of drinking water.
Surface water samples taken from Allianoyonyiga Creek and Crisps Creek exceeded the draft Livestock Drinking Water Guidelines (LDWG’s) for total dissolved solids (salinity). The draft LDWG’s for poultry were exceeded for magnesium and sulphate in both creeks. The level of sulphate exceeded the draft LDWG’s in Allianoyonyiga Creek, and the level of magnesium recorded in Allianoyonyiga Creek exceeded the draft LDWG’s for lactating cows and ewes with lambs.
During drought and dry periods, water quality issues are more commonplace. This is generally because when water supplies start to become low, salinity, pH and chemicals can reach higher than normal concentrations, and in surface water supplies algal blooms can occur, all of which have the potential to be harmful.
For information about water requirements for livestock visit DPI | Farm water quality - testing and treating for stock and domestic use.
If you are interested in understanding or testing the quality of surface water on your property and its suitability for livestock visit DPI | Water quality.
There are no livestock and irrigation water guidelines for PFAS.
At this stage, the EPA’s sampling program will focus on the immediate vicinity of the Precinct, data from private bores will not be collected at this stage. The need for further sampling will be considered once results from the immediate vicinity of the Precinct are analysed.
Recent regulatory action
Litter
In December 2024, the NSW EPA issued Veolia with a Clean-Up Notice to remove wind-blown plastic waste from the property neighbouring the Woodlawn Landfill (Licence No. 11436) premises. This Notice was issued following an inspection of the neighbouring property on 7 November 2024.
Find further information about the issuing of this Clean-Up Notice and variation.
Leachate dams
As of 20 November 2024 each of Veolia’s leachate dams previously at risk of an overflow event were restored to levels in compliance with their licence.
This follows the EPA issuing Veolia with a Clean-Up Notice in October 2024 after some dams used to store leachate, or wastewater, generated from their landfill operations in Tarago were confirmed to exceed storage limits set by the licence, increasing the risk of a potential offsite overflow event.
Veolia was required to undertake several actions to reduce the levels of leachate contained in their storage dams, including:
- transport treated leachate offsite to a lawful facility
- install temporary storage tanks onsite
- assess the feasibility of technology to reduce treated leachate onsite.
Find further information about the issuing of this Clean-Up Notice.
In addition to the Clean-Up Notice, the EPA issued a $30,000 fine to Veolia for allegedly breaching its licence by allowing one of its dams to exceed the allowed storage capacity in August 2024.
Find further information about the issuing of this Penalty Notice.
Mechanical Biological Treatment facility
In July 2024 the EPA fined Veolia $30,000 after allegedly failing to comply with the conditions of the Environment Protection Licence covering their Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility in the Woodlawn Eco-Precinct in Tarago.
Find further information about the issuing of this Penalty Notice.
Tarago odours
We are aware that the community has been experiencing ongoing odours around the Tarago area and are investigating. We appreciate that odours can be unpleasant and can impact quality of life.
We are reviewing each report of odour and requiring Veolia to improve odour management at its Woodlawn Eco Precinct.
Our regulatory decision making is undertaken in line with our Regulatory policy.
Reporting odours
Community reports play an important role in the EPA’s investigation of odours. Important information on odours can be recorded using the fact sheet and odour log sheet (PDF 160KB).
If you are experiencing odour impacts please contact our Environment Line on 131 555.
Veolia operates three EPA licensed facilities at its Woodlawn Eco Precinct, the Woodlawn Landfill, the Woodlawn Mechanical Biological Treatment Facility and the Crisps Creek Intermodal Facility. These licences do not permit offensive odour to leave the premises.
These licences are available on the public register
We are committed to reducing the odour impacts on the community as a priority and have undertaken a range of actions including:
- Directing Veolia to install and operate new monitoring stations for meteorology and hydrogen sulphide (rotten-egg smell) at the landfill and in Tarago. The EPA requires Veolia to publicly report these monitoring results (see below).
- Including comprehensive landfill surface gas monitoring and public reporting conditions on their licence to assist with the continuous improvement of landfill gas management.
- Ensuring Veolia implement additional leachate treatment plant works to increase water extraction from the landfill to improve the efficiency of the gas extraction system.
- Directing Veolia to follow up on Annual Independent Odour Audit (a condition of the major project approval) recommendations to mitigate odours including a Landfill Gas Composition Analysis and training of staff to undertake regular odour surveys.
- A Development Control Order (issued by DPE Planning) that requires Veolia to engage specialists to develop short, medium, and long-term leachate and water management strategies within specified timeframes.
We are working with Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to ensure that Veolia have appropriate safeguards in place to prevent offensive odours from the Woodlawn Eco Precinct and that Veolia comply with all statutory requirements in major project approvals and environment protection licences.
Where necessary we take action including issuing Penalty Notices, Prevention Notices, Warning Letters, Official Cautions and Pollution Reduction Programs for non-compliance with licence conditions.
We encourage people who experience odours to report to the 24-hour Environment Line on 131 555.
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) monitoring
The Environment Protection Licence for the Woodlawn Landfill requires Veolia to operate an ambient air quality monitoring surveillance system to provide real-time feedback on the presence of hydrogen sulphide which has been a common type of odour reported by the Tarago community. One of three AcrulogTM monitors is located in the vicinity of the Woodlawn Landfill. Two other monitors are located in the surrounding residential areas where odours are known to occur.
The real-time data can be viewed for the Veolia Eco Precinct, Tarago Recreation Area and Tarago Showground on Veolia’s website.
How do the monitors work?
The automatic AcrulogTM monitors are about the size of a litre carton of milk. They take an air sample every 10 minutes and analyse it for hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg gas). Hydrogen sulphide is a heavier-than-air colourless gas with a rotten egg smell.
The monitors can detect levels as low as 0.003 parts of hydrogen sulphide per million parts of air (ppm), and as high as 2 ppm. About half of the population can smell hydrogen sulphide at a concentration of around 0.008 parts hydrogen sulphide per million parts of air (ppm), but some people can smell it at 0.0005 ppm while others first smell it at 0.3 ppm.
Do the odours cause health impacts?
(Information provided by NSW Health)
Exposure to these low concentrations of hydrogen sulphide may cause irritation to the eyes, nose or throat, and difficulties in breathing in people with asthma. Repeated exposures at these levels can also understandably cause anxiety and distress and result in indirect symptoms such as headaches and nausea.
These effects are likely to be minor and temporary and should stop once the air quality improves.
Hydrogen sulphide once it enters the body does not accumulate as it is rapidly processed in the liver and excreted in the urine.
If residents are concerned about their symptoms or if symptoms persist once the odours have ceased, they should seek advice from their local general practitioner.