However, in a statement to The Advocate, spokesman for Auspork Peter Hardy said that the company had always taken great care to operate within EPA, Central Highlands Regional Water Board, Hepburn Shire, PrimeSafe

and other regulatory guidelines.

The phase one environmental draft site assessment, carried out by Lane Consulting, found a substantial volume of putrefied waste including sheep skins and pig hair discovered in trenches in the north-west paddock.

A small quantity of solid inert waste was also found buried.

The consultants identified two underground storage tanks on the south side of the abattoir which were likely to be contaminated.

The consultants also found liquid wastes, sludge in effluent lagoons, waste-water effluent pipes and waste-water irrigation impact.

An independent audit of asbestos was not undertaken.

Mr Hardy said that the Daylesford abattoir had operated as an abattoir in its current location for more than 30 years and that the site had been owned by Auspork Limited since 1991.

Mr Hardy said that the abattoir was a typical industrial site and, as with most industrial sites, chemical storage bunds, fuel storage tanks, effluent ponds and other industrial infrastructure were present.

"None of the items raised in the environmental consultant's report were unusual for a site of this nature," Mr Hardy said.

He said that, in particular, it was important for local landowners to be aware that the irrigation referred to in the report was carried out under a strict EPA licence and that the watercourse running through the site had been

subject to regular water quality checks by the EPA.

"These checks showed that now and at all times in the past there had been no contamination in the watercourse, and that water quality was of a high standard," Mr Hardy said.

The site is expected to be sold either to another abattoir operator or to an industrial park developer.

"The auctioneer will be making full disclosure of the environmental status of the site prior to the auction commencing," he said.