Update 8 December 2023
Following discussions with AJ Bush and Sons, they have advised they will continue to collect and receive materials from meat producers.
We understand that AJ Bush and Sons is contacting their customers with further information.
Odour
We continue to regulate AJ Bush and Sons site at Riverstone through an environment protection licence. The licence is available on the EPA's public register.
We are monitoring AJ Bush and Sons compliance with its requirements to reduce odour impacts.
Clean-up notice – September 2023
On 12 September 2023, EPA authorised officers conducted a routine odour survey of residential areas in Riverstone, Rouse Hill, and Grantham Farm and detected odours they believed originated from activities from the AJ Bush and Sons premises. Officers attended the AJ Bush and Sons premises unannounced to investigate the source of these odours further.
While onsite officers identified several areas where spills or leaks from equipment had occurred which required immediate attention. We issued a Clean-Up Notice to AJ Bush and Sons, requiring them to immediately take specified clean-up actions at the premises to reduce the risk of odour pollution.
The issued notice can be found on our Public Register. AJ Bush and Sons have completed the clean-up actions required by the notice.
We are continuing investigations into this event and may consider further regulatory action as an outcome of these investigations.
The EPA has also issued an Official Caution to AJ Bush and Sons following an investigation into maintenance of the biofilter between February and April 2023.
We appreciate that the impacts of odours can be unpleasant and can have a marked effect on quality of life. We continue to investigate odour events and may consider further regulatory action as an outcome to investigations. Prosecution of odour related non-compliances under the POEO Act requires significant evidence.
In accordance with the EPA’s Regulatory Strategy, we are requiring AJ Bush and Sons to improve environmental practices at the premises. We continue to use a variety of regulatory tools to ensure AJ Bush and Sons comply with their licence, and our regulatory decision making is undertaken in line with the EPA’s Regulatory Policy (PDF 6MB) and procedural fairness.
Reporting odour or concerns
Reports from the community play an important role in investigating odour and air-pollution incidents and we appreciate how unpleasant the impacts can be.
If residents are concerned about any symptoms they may experience due to odours they should seek advice from their local General Practitioner.
AJ Bush and Sons
If you are experiencing odours and believe that they are originating from AJ Bush and Sons, we encourage you to provide feedback directly to AJ Bush and Sons in the first instance so that AJ Bush can investigate potential causes of odour at the time you may experience them. Your input to AJ Bush and Sons plays an important role in ensuring the right environmental outcomes are achieved for the community. AJ Bush and Sons is also best placed to answer queries relating to odour mitigating activities and the impacts of any odour from their premises.
AJ Bush and Sons can be contacted by phone on (02) 8080 4347 24/7, via email at community@bushsproteins.com.au, and through the website bushsproteins.com.au.
Reports through these channels can be made anonymously, and all reports are handled by a third-party consultant and not AJ Bush and Sons directly.
As required by its Environment Protection Licence AJ Bush and Sons must keep a record of all complaints made to the company or any employee or agent of the company and provide the records to the EPA.
NSW Department of Planning and Environment
Land-use conflicts between industry and residential communities can be frustrating. If you have concerns or questions relating to the Riverstone East (Stage 3) urban planning and development, please visit the NSW Department of Planning.
Any concerns related to this stage of development should be directed to the Riverstone East stage 3 support team on 1300 420 596 or by email to riverstoneeast3@dpie.nsw.gov.au.
NSW Environment Protection Authority
Community members may continue to report new information and odour events to the EPA via Environment Line 131 555 or info@epa.nsw.gov.au.
All reports made to the Environment Line are important to us. We may not respond directly to reports made to the Environment Line unless we require further information.
We will keep our community webpage updated with our actions. Community members who have previously contacted us will be notified when updates are available.
Local councils
If you are experiencing odours and believe that they are originating from a source other than AJ Bush and Sons, please reach out to the local councils for the area in which the source may be located.
Blacktown City Council can be contacted by phone on (02) 5300 6000, via email at council@blacktown.nsw.gov.au, and through the website blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Contact-us.
The Hills Shire can be contacted by phone on (02) 9843 0555, and through the website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Contact-Us.
