The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by Simplot Australia Pty Ltd to install a Wet Electrostatic Scrubber Precipitator (WESP), at its vegetable processing facility at Ulverstone, in the Central Coast Council municipality.
The proposal involves removing the seven existing factory fryer stacks and redirecting the exhaust ducting into a single stack via the WESP to reduce air emissions. The proposal is enabling the existing level 2 activity, namely, activity 4(e) - Produce Processing Works in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA).
Public consultation on the proposal was open for 14 days from 22 February 2025. One public representation was received.
The proposal was considered in the context of the sustainable development objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System of Tasmania (RMPS), and the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control System (EMPCS) established by EMPCA.
The functions of the EPA are to administer and enforce the provisions of EMPCA, to further the RMPS and EMPCS objectives and, in particular, to use its best endeavours to protect the environment of Tasmania.
The EPA Acting Executive Director, Environmental Assessments, Cindy Ong, made the determination under delegation from the EPA Board and concluded that the proposed development can be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with conditions. The Board requires these conditions to be included in any permit subsequently granted by the Central Coast Council.
Various environmental issues were considered in the assessment, particularly air emissions.
"Particulate emissions, in the form of food oil mist, to the atmosphere from the current stacks, have been dispersing onto neighbouring residences and vehicles, however, the WESP is expected to reduce these emissions by approximately 80%," said Ms Ong.
"After review of the predicted emissions at ground level, the EPA is satisfied that the risk of environmental nuisance from particulate emissions is appropriately mitigated, and conditions will be imposed requiring stack testing of particulates to validate emissions modelling following installation of the WESP."
The environmental assessment report, including the environmental conditions, has been issued to Central Coast Council and provided to Simplot Australia Pty Ltd.
This decision and all assessment documents can be viewed on the EPA website at Proposals Assessed by the EPA | EPA Tasmania.
For more information, please contact the EPA Senior Environmental Engagement Officer on 0460 025 410.
Published on:
13/05/2025