Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Donnybrook company more than $7,500 for illegally discharging industrial waste in the form of dairy effluent.
EPA Metro Manager Daniel Hunt said Dalat Enterprises was fined after an EPA investigation found that it had allowed yogurt and cheese processing waste water to discharge onto surrounding paddocks from an underground storage tank.
“The fine was also issued because the company has completely ignored an EPA notice that requires it modify its underground storage tanks to prevent the waste water from discharging to land,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said following a pollution report from the community, EPA officers traced the discharge from the Donnybrook Road site across a paddock where it had caused erosion and a channel to form.
“The liquid has been allowed to flow about 200 metres, and luckily for the company the risk to the environment is considered low as cows in the paddock have been drinking puddles of the discharge,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said the discharge was easily preventable if the duty holder used the correct infrastructure for the storage and removal of waste water.
“The whole situation at the Donnybrook site is very disappointing as it is not difficult for a company to monitor its waste water tanks and ensure they are emptied when they are nearing capacity,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said the company was still yet to comply with the notice and EPA would look at further sanctions through its Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
“If the company had proper processes in place in the first place it would have saved itself more than $7,500. EPA will now look at further sanctions that could make this an even more expensive exercise for Dalat Enterpirses,” Mr Hunt said.
The company has informed EPA that the discharge has ceased and that it has engaged consultants to rectify the issue.
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