Australian wet blue tannery, Walfertan Tannery, has decided to drop its appeal against changes made to the company's licence to reduce odours that was ordered by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).

DEC spokesman, Grahame Clarke said, "Walftertan agreed to most of the works but proposed an alternative approach to the DEC's requirement for them to enclose the hide receiving area and to seal and treat air from the main tannery building. After subsequent negotiations between the DEC and Walfertan a new notice was agreed upon that will result in the same environmental outcomes, in a shorter timeframe.

As part of the agreement, Walfertan will complete a programme to reduce odours from the effluent oxidation towers, the tanning drums and a number of wastewater collection pits and screening equipment. This will be completed by June 2006, the DEC said in a statement.