Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Coolaroo company more than $7,500 for allowing industrial waste to impact on a neighbouring property and to flow into a stormwater drain.
EPA Metro Manager Daniel Hunt said poor practices at TPI Enterprises’ premises in Coolaroo had allowed the dark brown organic discharge to occur that had polluted the local environment.
“EPA officers found evidence that liquid had drained from a 5,000 litre tank at the site and flowed into a stormwater pit; they also detected the same discharge with strong organic characteristics at a neighbouring premises,” Mr Hunt.
“Our investigation, through a sampling and testing regime, confirmed the tank as the source of the pollution.”
Mr Hunt said the EPA investigation was launched following a report from a member of the community to the 1300 EPA VIC pollution hotline.
“EPA officers also found that a filter on the tank had become blocked and caused the overflow of waste to occur; the company has shown no regard to the environment as it did not have any secondary controls around the tank to prevent this pollution from occurring,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said the fact that the discharge had occurred was particularly disappointing.
“TPI Enterprises could have avoided this discharge of organic waste from occurring by simply having some bunding in place or by having secondary measures on the tank, such as high level alarms, to prevent this from happening.”
Mr Hunt said that as well as the fine, the company had been issued with a notice that required it to cease discharging waste.
“This EPA notice also required the company to use an eductor truck to remove residual pools of the waste and to ensure bunding was installed by 7 December. The notice was complied with and will be now revoked,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said the discharge of organic waste had a very strong odour that had impacted on those in the neighbouring property.
Members of the public should continue to report suspected pollution to EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at www.epa.vic.gov.au