Media release – TasWater, 20 Decembrer 2024

Non-Compliant trade waste significantly impacting Cameron Bay Sewage Treatment Plant

TasWater’s Cameron Bay Sewage Treatment Plant has been significantly impacted by high strength trade waste being discharged from Mondelez International Claremont factory (Mondelez).

Waste significantly above compliance levels killed the bacteria at the plant that safely treats the waste, effectively taking it offline.

TasWater General Manager of Customer and Community Matt Balfe said it was disappointing discharge of trade waste above acceptable limits had caused this.

“High strength trade waste significantly above allowable limits has been discharged to our Cameron Bay Sewage Treatment Plant by Mondelez, significantly impacting its performance,” said Mr Balfe.

“We have been working with Mondelez over the last three weeks in an effort to bring them into compliance and address the deterioration in performance we have been seeing at our plant.

“Unfortunately, due to the high strength of the waste the bacteria at the plant have been wiped out, effectively taking the plant offline.

“We will cease accepting this high strength trade waste from Mondelez and our team is working around the clock to get the plant back up and running. We expect to see improved performance in the coming days as we reseed the plant with the bacteria required for treatment.

“It’s disappointing this has significantly impacted the river, particularly at a time of the year we know Hobartians gather around the water to swim and spend time with their friends and families.

We share their frustration.”

Media release – Helen Burnet MP, Member for Clark and Greens Water Spokesperson, 20 December 2024

Cadbury factory the Grinch who stole Christmas from Hobart beach goers

It’s completely shocking that the Mondelez International Cadbury factory has discharged unacceptable levels of high strength industrial waste for weeks, disabling TasWater’s Cameron Bay Sewage Treatment Plant.

Due to this international company’s failure to comply with Tasmania’s waste discharge regulations, untreated sewage is now leaking into timtumili minanya / River Derwent, shutting down beaches along the coast.

For many, swimming at the beaches along timtumili minanya / River Derwent with friends and family is a summer holiday tradition. It’s completely unforgiveable that this international company has effectively closed Hobart beaches just days before Christmas, putting greater Hobartians’ Christmas plans at risk.

An investigation must be undertaken into how Mondelez International was able to overwhelm this treatment plant, and the river downstream. Mondelez International has been spewing waste into the northern Hobart sewage treatment plant for weeks now, remaining non-compliant with regulations despite TasWater’s work with them.

How is it that this breach has taken so long to be made public by TasWater and Mondelez?

The people of nipaluna / Hobart will rightly be asking how TasWater allowed this situation to escalate to the point where the treatment plant was completely disabled. Why they didn’t cease accepting Mondelez International’s waste before it completely shut down the plant is unclear.

It leaves questions unanswered as to whether procedures for the breach of waste discharge regulations are up to muster. These are the dire consequences for ordinary Tasmanians when EPA regulations for not complying to environmental standards are not enough to deter companies from polluting Hobart’s waterways.

Mondelez International are certainly accustomed to taking handouts from the Liberal Government, including millions of dollars for a chocolate fountain. They must pay back for the costs of bringing the sewage plant back online and cleaning up the Derwent.

That’s Not a Cigar … Don’t Swim in the Derwent!