Grain spilled out of two silos which collapsed at Manildra Group’s Shoalhaven Starches site at Bomaderry in October 2024. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW

MANILDRA Group’s Shoalhaven Starches will pay more than $170,000 for projects that benefit the local community and environment as part of an Enforceable Undertaking with the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

The NSW EPA negotiated the legally binding agreement after a 2024 incident at the company’s Bomaderry site, where a silo collapse spilled more than 2000 tonnes of wheat into the Shoalhaven River.

NSW EPA executive director of operations Stephen Beaman said the undertaking ensures the company takes responsibility for the incident, which had the potential to cause significant environmental harm.

“This was an incredibly serious incident, and the EPA took immediate action to protect the community and the environment,” Mr Beaman said.

“If the company had not taken immediate steps to contain and remove the grain from the river, the impact from the massive release of nutrients and organic matter would have been severe.

“While water monitoring by Shoalhaven Starches and the EPA showed no significant environmental harm to the river as a result of the silo collapse, the incident warranted strong regulatory action.

“Enforceable Undertakings allow us to hold companies legally accountable for addressing environmental issues and ultimately deliver tangible and long-term benefits, including meaningful corrective action, for both the environment and affected communities.”

Under the Enforceable Undertaking, Shoalhaven Starches will:

• fund the installation of track racks on a local creek to improve waterway health;
• deliver foreshore protection and bank stabilisation works;
• support rehabilitation projects; and,
• install fish-cleaning stations.

In addition to actions required by the undertaking, the NSW EPA has directed Shoalhaven Starches to engage an independent expert to conduct an Environmental Hazard Analysis, expected to be completed in late 2026, to help prevent future pollution incidents.

The company must also keep the community informed about its operations and improvements to pollution prevention by establishing a community consultative committee.

The cause of the silo collapse remains unknown and is the subject of an active investigation with Safework NSW.

Source: NSW EPA