A Campbellfield company that discharged a large amount of concrete slurry into a Laverton North stormwater drain has this week been convicted and fined $6000 and ordered to pay almost $5000 in court costs.
Campbellfield Mini Mix Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Werribee Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to one count of causing an environmental hazard under section 27A(1)(c) of the Environment Protection Act 1970.
The court heard that on 23 September 2011, an Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) officer saw grey concrete slurry in Kayes Drain and that it appeared to be coming from the company’s adjacent property at 184-186 Dohertys Road, Laverton North.
A fluorescein test EPA took to determine the source of the concrete slurry found the discharge was coming from the company’s site.
Samples of the slurry discharge showed that it was potentially toxic and had dangerous and very high levels of suspended solids and pH levels in the water.
The court heard the concrete slurry had the potential to impact aquatic life, including fish, plants and invertebrates and that photographs taken at the time of the investigation appeared to show dead plants amongst the slurry in Kayes Drain.
The investigation found the discharge was caused by a malfunction in the filter system located in the wash out pits, resulting in an overflow of water to be discharged into the drain.
At the time of the offence, EPA issued the company with a $6000 penalty infringement notice (PIN), but it was not paid within the required time.
Magistrate Fitzgerald convicted the company, ordering a fine of $6000 and costs to the EPA totalling $4890. If the company had paid the initial fine, no conviction would have been recorded.
EPA Metro Manager Daniel Hunt said companies needed to ensure industrial waste, including waste contaminated with sediment, did not leave the premises and contaminate stormwater.
"Operators have an obligation to act responsibly at all times, especially in areas where pollution can have large and irreversible impacts on native plants and animals," Mr Hunt.