Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Seaford stonecutting company more than $7,500 for illegally discharging wastewater from its site into a local stormwater drain.
EPA Southern Metropolitan Manager Leigh Bryant said Southern Stone Works (Vic) Pty Ltd had allowed a white/grey wastewater containing sediments to leave its site, which was a breach of the Environment Protection Act 1970.
“EPA officers investigated the discharge following a report from member of the public, took samples from a drain outlet and were able to trace the wastewater back to the company and found it had originated as a result of the stonecutting process,” Mr Bryant said.
“The spill has since been cleaned up by the company and there are no lasting effects on the local environment.”
Mr Bryant said the discharge had occurred when a pipe leading from a stoneworks building to the company’s wastewater treatment tank had broken and been replaced with a pipe that allowed the waste to enter the stormwater system.
“EPA also issued the company with a notice that required it to ensure its waste management system had controls in place to prevent further contaminated wastewater discharging into stormwater systems and offsite,” Mr Bryant said.
“The company has also entered into a trade waste agreement with South East Water and bunding has also been installed to prevent wastewater discharging again.”
Mr Bryant said EPA would continue to monitor the site to ensure the company remained compliant with its statutory obligations and that no further environmental impacts occurred.
EPA urges members of the public to continue reporting suspected pollution to the EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at www.epa.vic.gov.au