Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined Parks Victoria more than $7,500 and issued it with a notice requiring an environmental assessment to be undertaken at all of its work depots across Victoria.
Parks Victoria has also received an official warning from EPA after taking responsibility for lighting a green waste fire containing industrial waste at the State Coal Mine tourist site in Wonthaggi.
EPA Acting CEO Cathy Wilkinson said the fine was issued because of poor wastewater management practices at its depot in the Melbourne suburb of Warrandyte that had the potential to harm parkland and the Yarra River.
“During an EPA investigation into the Warrandyte site in January, EPA sampling near a wash bay found herbicide contamination of soil from wastewater but no contamination in the Yarra River,” Dr Wilkinson said.
“The contamination was a clear breach of the Environment Protection Act 1970, which is why EPA has handed down the fine. Parks Victoria had since adopted new practices to prevent wastewater leaving the Warrandyte site and impacting on the local environment.”
Dr Wilkinson said the notice issued to Parks Victoria required it to review work practices at all work depots and wash bays across Victoria by 30 March 2017.
“This major assessment will examine whether any other environmental risks exist at all Parks Victoria sites. If any do, Parks Victoria must ensure appropriate measures are installed to address any concerns,” Dr Wilkinson said.
“EPA’s expectation is that all Victorians meet their environmental obligations to protect our environment for future generations.”
Dr Wilkinson said if any further breaches of the Environment Protection Act 1970 were found they would be assessed against EPA’s Compliance & Enforcement Policy.
“If there is damage occurring to the environment as a result of work activities at these sites, EPA will assess the level of any offence, and this could result in further fines,” Dr Wilkinson said.
Dr Wilkinson said the official warning was issued because Parks Victoria had lit a fire to discard green waste that had also included cement sheeting, treated pine wood waste, metals and general rubbish.
“Parks Victoria has taken responsibility for the burn and has committed to reviewing its waste management procedures at the site to ensure this does not happen again,” Dr Wilkinson.
EPA initially inspected the Warrandyte site in January following a report to its pollution hotline 1300 EPA VIC (372 842).