Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has investigated a diesel spill from a bulldozer just out of Bendigo along the Calder Freeway at Ravenswood.
EPA North West Field Team Leader Danny Childs said the spill had occurred at the site of major road works and was the result of vandalism.
“One of the bulldozers undertaking works at the site has had diesel syphoned from its tanks by a thief in the night, unfortunately this has also caused a spill to occur that has impacted on the local environment,” Mr Childs said.
Mr Childs said the amount of diesel lost from the vehicle was unknown, but the capacity of its tank is just over 1000 litres, which was full before the incident.
“The spill of diesel has flowed about 200 metres across an area of soil and entered Ravenswood Creek, which was slightly flowing at the time,” Mr Childs said.
“When EPA officers attended the site, they found a diesel sheen within the creek that stretched for about 50 metres; thankfully, there were no signs of environmental impact further downstream.”
Mr Childs said EPA had provided advice to the company that was completing the road works about how it could excavate the contaminated soil between the bulldozer and the creek.
“EPA has also worked with the company to install absorbent mats in the waterway to capture the diesel sheen and have it removed. Pools of water are also being removed from the road works site,” Mr Childs said.
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