Today in the Portland Magistrates’ Court, waste company Transpacific Industries
Pty Ltd (TPI) was convicted on two charges brought by EPA Victoria, in relation
to pollution of atmosphere and a breach of its EPA licence under the
Environment Protection Act 1970.
The court has ordered the company to pay $80,000 towards an environmental
project and pay EPA costs of $10,000.
On 6 August 2011, in contravention of its EPA licence, TPI set up a treatment
trial to deodorise ‘Elf Atochem Spotleak 1005’, an odorous compound that is
added to odourless natural gas and LPG.
The offensive odour was discharged beyond the boundary of the company’s
Portland site.
This odour was reported by 130 Portland residents, and emergency services were
contacted.
Residents complained of nausea, throat irritation and general illness, although
the odour had no lasting effects on the environment or residents’ health, and
TPI co-operated fully with EPA throughout the investigation.
The environmental project will develop the Portland Community Garden on the old
Portland High School site.
The garden will include an indigenous garden, community vegetable garden, an
interpretive walk, orchard, nursery, an education shelter, men’s shed, cooking
area, small wood plantation and native plants section.
Vegetable plots will be available for community members.
Since the incident TPI no longer accepts this type of liquid waste at the
premises, and has reviewed training procedures to prevent a recurrence of this
incident.
EPA Director Environmental Regulation, Chris Webb has welcomed the
environmental solution, saying these types of penalties ensured the community
most impacted by environmental pollution directly benefited from the sanction.