Sydney meat processing plant Primo Foods fined $150,000 after pollution of Cooks River

A Sydney meat processing company has been fined $150,000 after thousands of litres of meaty “discharge” spewed into the Cooks River.

The incident involving Primo Foods in November last year was reportedly the result of a blocked wastewater drain.

But the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said even accidental incidents needed to be held to account.

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Up to 5000L of wastewater escaped from a stormwater drain as a result of the blockage, and entered the Cooks River, in south-eastern Sydney, on November 8, 2022.

The $150,000 sum paid out by Primo Foods will help contribute to the local council’s water health and quality initiatives.

Those initiatives include the Coastal Management Program and Litter Booms Project, along the Cooks River and the Cooks River Foreshore.

Primo Foods will pay more than $150,000 after a busted drain led to thousands of litres of contaminated water entering the Cooks River. Credit: Supplied/Primo Foods

The meat maker has also agreed to pay $46,620 for EPA investigative costs, and replace two valves to control the flow of contaminated water on the premises, estimated to cost $190,000.

EPA Director of Operations Adam Gilligan said: “While Primo undertook clean-up efforts to remove water polluted with animal products from the river, and accepts full responsibility, the EPA is concerned that the incident could have been avoided.”

“We are pleased the company has now taken proactive measures to prevent further harm to the local ecosystem.”

These measures include the installation of a new monitoring system with an alarm, and a change to policy which will require all waste trade drains to be jet blasted twice a year, instead of once.

7NEWS.com.au has contacted Primo for comment.

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