The "putrid" smell that intensified over Longford during the summer months has eased to normal levels, mayor Mary Knowles says, as meat processing company JBS vows to reduce its impact on the local community. JBS met with Northern Midlands councillors and staff on Tuesday to give its reassurances about works to prevent infrastructure issues that caused the smell from its site in Longford's north-west to become worse than usual. JBS Longford plant manager Vernon Piwari said the company would continue to work with the council and TasWater to "deliver environmental outcomes, which underpins a cost competitive JBS Longford". More on the Longford pong: "JBS Longford is here for the long-term and we will continue to be a major employer in the local Longford community," he said. "Our commitment to environmental and sustainable practices, and reducing the impact of our operations on the local environment is the cornerstone of our plan." The smell became particularly bad during February after a breakdown in the screw press in the rendering plant, combining with additional gases produced because of fat digestion at the nearby TasWater wastewater treatment plant during hot weather. Cr Knowles said the community was accepting of the meatworks' presence - which has been at the location for at least 50 years - but events causing the smell to intensify needed to be limited. "The ordinary smell of the meatworks wasn't an issue, it was just the terribly bad smell that was occurring recently," she said. "Improvements have been happening over time, and some fairly large investment has to happen. "They're private companies of course, but we have a role to play in bringing it to their attention. They employ a lot of people, between 300 and 400, so we don't want to put any of those jobs at risk. "The last couple of weeks things have improved." JBS is planning on bringing forward enhancements to its rendering plant, and improving the sealing on the building. The Longford site is Tasmania's largest export meat processing facility. An upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant is expected to improve the odour of the area. The council will also meet with TasWater and the Environment Protection Authority in the coming weeks.
Longford locals say the meatworks has been at the site for at least 50 years, but the recent odour has been too much - combining with the smell from the wastewater treatment plant.
The "putrid" smell that intensified over Longford during the summer months has eased to normal levels, mayor Mary Knowles says, as meat processing company JBS vows to reduce its impact on the local community.
JBS met with Northern Midlands councillors and staff on Tuesday to give its reassurances about works to prevent infrastructure issues that caused the smell from its site in Longford's north-west to become worse than usual.
JBS Longford plant manager Vernon Piwari said the company would continue to work with the council and TasWater to "deliver environmental outcomes, which underpins a cost competitive JBS Longford".
"JBS Longford is here for the long-term and we will continue to be a major employer in the local Longford community," he said.
"Our commitment to environmental and sustainable practices, and reducing the impact of our operations on the local environment is the cornerstone of our plan."
The smell became particularly bad during February after a breakdown in the screw press in the rendering plant, combining with additional gases produced because of fat digestion at the nearby TasWater wastewater treatment plant during hot weather.
Cr Knowles said the community was accepting of the meatworks' presence - which has been at the location for at least 50 years - but events causing the smell to intensify needed to be limited.
"The ordinary smell of the meatworks wasn't an issue, it was just the terribly bad smell that was occurring recently," she said.
"Improvements have been happening over time, and some fairly large investment has to happen.
"They're private companies of course, but we have a role to play in bringing it to their attention. They employ a lot of people, between 300 and 400, so we don't want to put any of those jobs at risk.
"The last couple of weeks things have improved."
JBS is planning on bringing forward enhancements to its rendering plant, and improving the sealing on the building. The Longford site is Tasmania's largest export meat processing facility.
An upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant is expected to improve the odour of the area.
The council will also meet with TasWater and the Environment Protection Authority in the coming weeks.
