The EPA said this image shows the wastewater pond that received the impacted odorous effluent. The white solid substance is volatile fatty acid, which the EPA said indicates undigested wastewater. Photo: NSW EPA.

The smell of decaying waste that drifted across Goulburn earlier this year has resulted in a $30,000 fine for the company behind the town’s abattoir.

An NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) spokesperson said it received complaints from the local community about strong, unpleasant odours – described as decaying waste – drifting across parts of Goulburn in April 2025.

“The odours are believed to have been caused by a failure in part of the abattoir’s wastewater treatment system, which led to untreated water discharging into an onsite dam,” the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday

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