Woolgoolga pesticides compliance inspections
Water quality within Hearnes Lake and its catchment is known to be impacted by horticultural land use practice.
The EPA undertakes pesticide water monitoring, compliance activities and stakeholder engagement across the Hearnes Lake catchment and broader Mid North Coast area to support improved environmental outcomes and responsible pesticide use.
For information about the results of current pesticide water monitoring and pesticide compliance activities across the Coffs Harbour region, visit the Mid North Coast pesticides monitoring and compliance page.
The EPA inspected 40 horticultural operations in the Woolgoolga area as part of its compliance program. Following these inspections, the EPA conducted 21 investigations resulting in:
- 15 Penalty Notices
- 7 Official Cautions
- 8 Formal Warnings
- 14 Advisory letters issued
for water pollution and pesticide offences.
We also issued 14 Prevention and 6 Clean-up Notices to farmers with directions to cease wastewater discharge to the environment by installing wastewater capture and on-site reuse or irrigation systems. The notices also required the upgrade of pesticide storage areas and removal of waste products to reduce environmental and human health risks.
Follow up inspections have found a high level of compliance with prevention and clean-up notices, with the outcome that the majority of farms have now installed wastewater capture and irrigation systems, upgraded or installed new pesticides storage enclosures, and engaged in better waste management practices on farm.
We also conducted water quality monitoring in the Hearnes Lake catchment and identified pesticides in waters downstream of horticultural operations. We are currently reviewing this data and will provide more detailed information on conclusion of this review.
The EPA continues to work with government and non-government stakeholders to improve grower awareness of compliance and environmental issues. This includes working with Local Land Services to develop contemporary industry guidance material and attending field days and grower meetings to promote best practice and compliance with pesticides laws.