Wandalup Farms Piggery's controversy resolved

26/5/93

Environment Minister Kevin Minson said today that a solution had been found to the controversy surrounding the Wandalup Farms Piggery near Pinjarra.

Mr Minson said he had been advised today that the Environmental Protection Authority and the operators of Wandalup Farms Piggery had agreed on a strategy to reduce the piggery's environmental impact to an acceptable level.

The piggery is in the catchment of the Peel-Harvey estuary which has suffered from algal blooms caused by excessive nutrients and it was clear that a plan to reduce the total nutrient load was necessary.

On April 7, Mr Minson asked Wandalup Farms and the EPA to settle their dispute about the piggery's operating licence.

As a result of those negotiations a new set of licence conditions had been drawn up which would become effective immediately.

The agreed conditions should bring the piggery's phosphorous discharge to 360 kg per year after 1996.

The licence set interim targets for phosphorous loss and included the commitment by Wandalup Farms to install an additional wastewater treatment plant by July 1994.

Mr Minson said he was pleased that agreement had been reached, that it was a victory for common sense and that the environment would be the winner as a result.

He congratulated the EPA and Wandalup Farms for their co-operative effort in resolving what had become a very difficult situation.

Media contact: John McNamara  222 9595