Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Dooen property owner $1,820 for illegally burying construction and demolition waste just one kilometre from the Dooen Landfill.
EPA Acting North West Manager Paul Ratajczyk said an investigation had been launched following reports that a demolished house containing asbestos had been deposited in two farmland dams.
“When EPA officers attended the site they found an excavator onsite and a large area of disturbed soil. The dam closest to where a house had been demolished was partly filled in, while another dam contained mixed industrial waste,” Mr Ratajczyk said.
“The waste in the dams included tyres, concrete, timber and what appeared to be asbestos pipes and sheeting (not airborne). EPA testing from both dams confirmed the presence of asbestos.”
Mr Ratajczyk said depositing waste of this nature was a clear breach of the Environment Protection Act 1970, which was why EPA had handed down the fine.
“Given the nearest landfill is just one kilometre away, the duty holder has displayed scant regard in assessing the associated environmental risks of their actions,” Mr Ratajczyk said.
Mr Ratajczyk said the landholder had also been issued with a notice that required all industrial waste to be removed from the dams.
“The occupier of this farm has until December 2016 to comply with the EPA notice and must also provide a clearance certificate confirming all asbestos has been removed and disposed of at a licenced facility,” Mr Ratajczyk said.
“The removal of this waste is sure to cost thousands of dollars more than it would have cost to take it to an appropriate landfill. Choosing to take the risk of illegally dumping this demolished house is going to end with the farm occupier being well out of pocket.”
Mr Ratajczyk said EPA was determined to reduce the 350,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste illegally dumped in Victoria each year.
“In 2014/15, EPA issued 129 remedial notices relating to illegal dumping – 70 per cent of these notices involved the dumping of construction and demolition wastes such as concrete, asbestos, timber and bricks,” Mr Ratajczyk said.
“Construction and demolition type waste is classified as industrial waste under the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009. This material can only be disposed of at sites permitted or licensed to accept it.
“Landowners can learn how to correctly dispose of waste by visiting the EPA website, which has advice on legal environmental obligations.”
EPA urges members of the public to report suspected pollution to EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at
www.epa.vic.gov.au