Fire and Rescue NSW used drones to monitor collapsed silos at Manildra. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW.
There’s no use crying over spilt milk, but a 2000-plus tonne grain spill at Bomaderry will cost Shoalhaven Starches more than $170,000 on top of the lost product.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the company to spend on projects that benefit the local community and environment as part of an enforceable undertaking in response to the 2024 spill.
The incident took place at the company’s Bomaderry site, where two grain silos collapsed and spilled more than 2000 tonnes of wheat grain into the Shoalhaven River.
A fire alarm at Manildra was likely triggered by the dust generated when the silos collapsed about 10 pm on Thursday 17 October. A third silo was also compromised.
Fire and Rescue crews evacuated 65 people from the facility and managed the scene. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and there was no long-term damage to the Shoalhaven River.
NSW EPA Executive Director of Operations Stephen Beaman said the enforceable undertaking ensured the company took 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 under the enforceable undertaking, the EPA has directed Shoalhaven Starches to engage an independent expert to conduct an environmental hazard analysis (EHA) to help prevent future pollution incidents.
The EHA is expected to be complete in late 2026.
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.
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