Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined Echuca company Riverside Meats over $7,500 for failing to have adequate backup measures in place to prevent waste water escaping from a tank at its site.
EPA North West Manager Danny Childs said the tank contained waste water from abattoir operations, which was very high in organic and nutrient levels.
“If the tank at the Riverside Meats site were to fail, this could cause significant damage to the environment and waterways as it is situated just 50 metres away from the Murray River,” Mr Childs said.
Mr Childs said the company had been provided a clear timeframe by EPA to install secondary measures following an inspection of the site earlier this year, but had failed to do so.
“During a routine inspection of the site EPA officers found no secondary containment measures to protect the environment should the tank burst or overflow,” Mr Childs.
“EPA then issued Riverside Meats with a Pollution Abatement Notice that required the company to install backup measures to protect the environment, which was not complied with in the prescribed timeframe.
Mr Childs said that as a result of Riverside Meats not complying with this notice EPA issued a $7,584 fine through a Penalty Infringement Notice.
“EPA issued the fine as it expects industry to take its environmental obligations seriously and when a notice is issued to remediate a risk these requirements must be complied with.”
EPA encourages the community to report pollution to its 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or by visiting www.epa.vic.gov.au