AJ Bush & Sons operates a meat rendering facility situated on Windsor Road in Rouse Hill. 

In recent years, the Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment (DPIE) has released land in the surrounding suburbs closer to the facility. It's noteworthy that the land contracts haven't disclosed any information regarding offensive odours in the area.

Unfortunately, many residents regularly endure a noxious odour allegedly emanating from AJ Bush & Sons Meat Rendering facility. 

This odour has been described as "foul, nauseating, offensive, pungent, and unbearable," often likened to "cooking dog food," and associated with "rotten meat, effluent, sewer, and manure." EPA officers have conducted investigations on several occasions, corroborating these descriptions.

Notably, AJ Bush & Sons has faced multiple alleged breaches, clean up notices and two fines, with the EPA documenting cautions and penalties underscoring the severity of the situation.

In September 2023,  EPA officers attended AJ Bush’s site to investigate odour reports in which they believe a “pollution incident” occurred. EPA officers documented several alleged breaches on AJ Bush’s site including >70 uncovered bins of raw animal parts stored outside along with a significant amount of blood and feathers strewn across the driveway and an overflowing waste water pond. These breaches resulted in the EPA issuing AJ Bush & Sons with a clean up notice (the second over a twelve month period) and in February 2024 the EPA issued AJ Bush with a penalty infringement notice along with another official caution and $15K fine in relation to this matter  

Some have said that on occasions the unpleasant odour is present as far as Rouse Hill shopping centre and the Ponds Shopping Centre. It is regularly present along surrounding streets in Rouse Hill including Tallawong Road/Tallawong Metro Station, Grantham Farm, Box Hill, Tallawong, Riverstone, and Rouse Hill.

Between October 2022 and April 2024 there have been more than 200 complaints have been registered with the EPA from more than 90 different individuals. Many of these complaints losge by an individual are on behalf of larger families.

Our community has endured the distressing odour from AJ Bush & Sons, coupled with the alleged breaches documented on the EPA website. Therefore, we earnestly request that they urgently upgrade the facility to contain odours within their boundaries or consider relocating to a more suitable location.

If you support this cause, please sign this petition and encourage your family members to do the same. 

EPA Executive Director Regulatory Operations Steve Beaman himself stated, "AJ Bush & Sons must ensure that the plant is appropriately upgraded and management practices are implemented to stop the generation of offensive odours. Nearby residents deserve better, and their quality of life should not be compromised."

Additionally, we encourage you to report any offensive odours you believe are coming from AJ Bush & Sons to the EPA at info@epa.nsw.gov.au. 

Furthermore, please cc the following email addresses to ensure that your local representative, council, and the Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment understand the impact of the odour on your family:

Blacktown.Council@blacktown.nsw.gov.au
information@planning.nsw.gov.au
riverstone.east@planning.nsw.gov.au
warren.kirby@nswlabor.org.au
ElectorateOffice.Riverstone@parliament.nsw.gov.au Luke.Cook@blacktown.nsw.gov.au
Lauren.Everett@blacktown.nsw.gov.au