Environmental protection notice issued to City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder flags odour and pollution concerns

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has copped an environmental protection notice over a smell which has plagued residents for years, as well as suspected wastewater pollution at Hannan Lake. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation issued the notice on July 9 in relation to the South Boulder Wastewater Treatment Plant because of emissions which “have caused or are likely to cause pollution”. The notice states emissions of odour from the plant have caused, or are likely to cause, a detrimental impact on the air quality that is “conducive to public amenity, public health and aesthetic enjoyment of the environment”. It also raises concern with pollution from the discharge of wastewater to Hannan Lake, which has caused, or could cause, a detriment to public health, safety and amenity in the area. The city must now take measures to prevent, control and abate the pollution and investigate the extent and nature of the environment harm and its consequences, and report to the department on actions to comply with all 22 requirements issued. City chief executive Andrew Brien said the city had been proactively upgrading the plant, originally built in 1989, “for some time” and had consistently met its water quality reporting obligations. He said the city would continue to work closely with DWER when progressing planned upgrades, including a $12.8 million investment in 2025-26 to “improve treatment processes, review environmental and groundwater risks, and enhance infrastructure”. “Managing odour and wastewater at the site is complex, but the city remains committed to long-term improvements,” he said. The notice said the city had until close of business on July 9 to “cease discharging floating debris” from lagoons or ponds at the plant to any other lagoon or pond, and all floating debris be removed, placed in a sealed container and taken to a place which accepts waste within seven days. Installation of dual band screens to ensure solids are separated and removed from wastewater prior to any wastewater treatment must occur by August 29 and a Magflow meter must be installed at the inlet pipe. Other requirements include providing a comprehensive Hannan Lake discharge plan within 21 days of the notice, outlining ceasing the discharging of wastewater to the lake within three weeks of the plan being approved. Within seven days of the notice, a qualified and experienced wastewater expert must be engaged to carry out an assessment and prepare a wastewater management report. The report must include a 12-month plan to undertake an ecological risk assessment investigating all environmental risks to Hannan Lake from effluent discharges from the plant, including water quality monitoring. Requirements also include other upgrades and desludging of lagoons at the plant.