By CASEY NEILL
A flourishing Gembrook potato grower and processor has poured almost a million dollars into protecting the environment.
But like many burgeoning businesses, Mountain Harvest Foods (MHF) has at times struggled to keep up with its environmental obligations during its rapid expansion.
So it’s worked with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on its journey from small fry to potato gem over the past six years, addressing issues as they arise.
Anthony Failla came on board at the family potato farm in 2003 he didn’t see a sustainable future, so he built a potato cake factory, bought and relocated two established suppliers and got his sister Christina de Sousa involved.
Farm turnover has grown from $230,000 a year in 2003 to more than $10 million today.
In June this year, the EPA issued MHF with a remedial notice relating to ongoing pollution reports regarding a fish and chip-like odour emitting from the Mountain Road factory.
EPA officers have visited the site on several occasions and confirmed the smell, plus noticed a build-up of cooking fats around extraction fans.
Their report on the issue said they were informed that plans were being developed to install a scrubber to address the odour and particle emissions.
A MHF spokeswoman said the company was committed to complying with all regulations and growing in a sustainable manner.
In addition to hiring a full-time operations manager with a background in food manufacturing, MHF has spent almost $850,000 in environmental protection measures.
A $500,000 planting system from Europe is set to reduce soil degradation and improve efficiency. An environmental consultant reviewed processes and helped to develop and implement solutions, at a cost of $60,000.
About $100,000 in robotic handling equipment and $50,000 in vision systems are to reduce waste generation and improve efficiency.
EPA southern metropolitan manager Leigh Bryant said Mountain Harvest Foods came to EPA’s attention in March last year following community pollution reports.
“Mountain Harvest Foods has complied with a number of remedial notices relating to wastewater, and has prepared a waste management plan for its premises,” he said.
Ms de Sousa said at the time that a pipe blockage caused a small oil overflow into a dam but added that it was contained.
“While we were extremely unhappy about the circumstances, as a growing business this issue provided us with the opportunity to test our responsiveness, safety and quality protocols,” she said.
“Soil and water are our primary resources and we take our stewardship of the land very seriously.”
Following the recent notice, Mr Bryant said “EPA is satisfied that the company is actively working to achieve compliance with this notice within the required timeframes”.
He said failure to comply with a notice could lead to further EPA enforcement action, such as a penalty infringement notice, which attracted a fine of more than $7000.
“If blatant disregard is shown to notices, EPA would seek prosecution, which could see a maximum fine of $250,000,” he said.
“EPA has not issued any infringements on the company.”
Mr Bryant urged members of the public to continue reporting suspected pollution to the EPA on 1300 EPA VIC or at www.epa.vic.gov.au.
