EPA Victoria was very busy in the month of October issuing five Official
Warnings and eight Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) across the state in line
with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
These were in response to incidents which had either posed a risk to the
environment or community - or to parties with a history of creating
environmental harm. The purpose of the sanctions is to act as a deterrent
against reoffending, and reminds business owners and individuals of their
environmental responsibilities.
Sanctions range from an official warning or penalty infringement notice ($1,690
for an individual, $7042 for a company) to a license/permit suspension,
enforceable undertaking, prosecution or even a permit revocation for the worst
offenders.
North West
Business/individual: Hazeldenes Chicken Farm Pty Ltd
Location: Lockwood VIC 3551
Date of incident: 15 Aug 2013
Sanction: Official Warning
Environmental incident: A putrid odour was detected beyond the boundaries of
the premises, breaching the conditions of their licence.
Business/individual: Coliban Region Water Corporation
Location: Kyneton VIC 3444
Date of incident: 18-26 July 2013
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: Treated waste water was discharged from an unlicensed
discharge point, a breach of Section 27A(2)(a) of the Environment Protection
Act 1970. Approx. 50,000 litres per day over eight days entered Snipes Creek.
Business/individual: Newearth Constructions Pty Ltd
Location: Romsey VIC 3434
Date of incident: 21 Aug 2013
Sanction: Official Warning
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2)(a) of the Environment
Protection Act 1970 by disposing industrial waste at an unlicensed site, in
this case multiple piles of concrete were dumped on a rural property.
Metro Melbourne
Business/individual: Zinfra Contracting Pry Ltd
Location: Footscray VIC 3011
Date of incident: 5 March 2013
Sanction: Official Warning
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2)(a) of the Environment
Protection Act 1970, for disposing of a truck load of slurry at an unlicensed
premise. Samples showed the slurry contained category C levels of Nickel.
Business/individual: Australian Vinyls Corporation Victoria
Location: Laverton VIC 3028
Date of incident: 20-27 December 2012
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2) of the Environment Protection
Act 1970 by releasing in to the atmosphere of Ethyl Chloroformate equal to 16
grams per minute, licence maximum is 0.36 grams per minute. Tank was not sealed
correctly.
Business/individual: The Shell Company of Australia Limited
Location: Hawthorn East VIC 3123
Date of incident: 6 May 2013
Sanction: Official Warning
Environmental incident: Shell failed to report to EPA a likely licence
non-compliance which breaches their license condition
Business/individual: Baxter Business Pty Ltd
Location: Clayton South VIC 3169
Date of incident: 5 Sep 2013
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2) of the Environment Protection
Act 1970 by failing to cover waste at the end of day operations. A clear
licence breach.
Business/individual: Industrial Galvanizers Corp Pty Ltd
Location: Campbellfield VIC 3061
Date of incident: 11 Apr 2013
Sanction: Official Warning
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2) of the Environment Protection
Act 1970 by failing to cover waste at the end of day operations. A clear
licence breach.
Business/individual: Individual*
Location: Donvale VIC 3111
Date of incident: 23 July 2013
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: The individual breached Section 27A(2)(a) of the
Environment Protection Act 1970 by allowing liquid from acid tank to run off
into a storm pit which would eventually run offsite.
North East
Business/individual: Individual*
Location: Pine Lodge VIC 3631
Date of incident: 21 May 2013
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2)(a) of the Environment
Protection Act 1970, permitting the deposit of industrial waste. The individual
allowed concrete waste to be buried in his dam.
Business/individual: Australian Consolidated Milk Pty Ltd
Location: Kyabram VIC 3620
Date of incident: 21 May 2013
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2)(a) of the Environment
Protection Act 1970, permitting the deposit of industrial waste. The individual
allowed concrete waste to be buried in his dam.
Business/individual: Cleaves Earthmoving & Drainage Pty Ltd
Location: Shepparton VIC 3630
Date of incident: 21 May 2013
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2)(a) of the Environment
Protection Act 1970 by transporting and depositing approx. 54 tonnes of
concrete industrial waste into an individual’s dam.
Business/individual: Individual*
Location: Peechelba VIC 3678
Date of incident: 22 July 2013
Sanction: PIN
Environmental incident: Breach of Section 27A(2)(a) of the Environment
Protection Act 1970 by burning approximately 4000 tyres in a gully.
*individual name withheld due to privacy laws
Those issued with a PIN have 28 days to pay the fine. Alternatively, they can
apply for an internal review or have the matter dealt with in court.