RESIDENTS plagued by a sour, curdled milk-like stench emanating from a Hexham dairy facility can finally breathe easier after the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) fined the operator $30,000.
The EPA found Hexham Manufacturing Pty Ltd had failed to maintain its plant equipment, resulting in a sewage-like pong coming from its dairy processing facility.
Residents and businesses made numerous odour complaints between August and October last year, leading officers to undertake multiple inspections of the site and surrounding area.
Officers confirmed offensive odours were mainly coming from the wastewater treatment plant, with the same smell on the nose at a number of locations offsite.
NSW EPA director of operations Greg Sheehy said the community had been subjected to unacceptable odours.
"Operators are required to properly maintain equipment and respond before issues escalate," he said.
"That didn't happen in this case.
"Our investigation found the facility's wastewater treatment system had not been adequately maintained for several years, contributing to shocking conditions that caused strong odours."
Mr Sheehy said excessive sludge had accumulated in the main aeration dam, which overloaded the pond and hindered its performance.
"This build-up resulted in a blanket of fatty acids and dairy waste such as whey, leading to poor settling, foam and odours," he said.
"The local community had to deal with persistent offensive odours for too long, and the EPA will continue taking action where licence holders fail to properly manage and maintain their infrastructure."
In September 2025, the EPA issued Hexham Manufacturing with a prevention notice and the company undertook an extensive desludging operation.
The EPA has fined the operator $30,000 for failing to properly maintain its wastewater treatment plant, breaching the conditions of its Environment Protection Licence.
