A North Shore wood chipping company that allowed a significant amount of contaminated water to leave its site and enter Corio Bay has this week been fined $7584 by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).
EPA launched an investigation into Midway Limited’s on-site practices following a community report on 9 May 2016 that contaminated water was entering Corio Bay at North Shore.
EPA officers responded to the report and found significant amounts of what appeared to be sediment laden water discharging from a single stormwater point near the company’s premises.
EPA Acting South West Manager, Tanya McAteer said it was disappointing that a prominent business within the Geelong community had allowed this to happen.
“Especially when regular maintenance and correct management of stormwater on the company’s site could have prevented the discharge,” she said.
”Heavily laden stormwater with high levels of suspended solids entering a waterway like Corio Bay can reduce dissolved oxygen concentration and consequently impact on aquatic organisms.”
“Ensuring the health of Corio Bay and its marine life should be maintained for future generations wanting to access these resources.”
Ms McAteer said Midway Limited had since implemented measures to prevent a similar occurrence, including servicing the interceptor and installing a pump to relocate stormwater collected in the interceptor to two stormwater dams on site.