Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s (EPA) 2017-2018 Annual Report has been tabled in parliament.
The report reflects on a busy 12 months that has seen the organisation grow toward becoming a world class regulator of the environment as it starts the process of preparing for the new environment protection legislation passed by the Victorian Parliament in August.
“Our year has focused on the prevention of harm to our environment and to human health while holding polluters to account,” EPA CEO Dr Cathy Wilkinson said.
“EPA is evidence based and led by its science. As we transition toward a new Environment Protection Act in July 2020, we will gain enhanced powers that will make us more effective in preventing environmental harm and holding to account those who fail to meet the community’s expectations.”
Major events in 2017-18 included:
Stawell Tyre Stockpile
Over many years, a million tyres were stockpiled at a Stawell site creating a fire and environment hazard. When the responsible party failed to take appropriate action, EPA stepped in to clear the tyres ahead of the summer fire season.
In the courts
EPA had success in the courts with a significant increase in major prosecutions particularly against those involved in illegal dumping and transport of waste. Vinter Avenue Pty Ltd was fined $75,000 for illegally transporting waste and in an associated case Watson Environmental was fined $125,000 for what the magistrate described as a “significant breach of trust”. CMA Recycling Pty Ltd was fined $60,000 with conviction and ordered to pay more than $50,000 in costs for storing prescribed industrial waste without a permit.
All Victorian Bin Hire Pty Ltd was also fined $10,000 for dumping waste illegally as was Eugene Skliar who was fined $30,000 when he rented a Somerton farm not to run sheep and cattle, but for the purpose of dumping industrial waste.
Chief Environmental Scientist
The Chief Environmental Scientist, Dr Andrea Hinwood, completed her first full year in the newly created role addressing several major issues and taking a hands-on approach including at the Coolaroo and SW Victoria peat fires. The position is a first for the state and again delivers on a recommendation from the EPA Inquiry.
SKM Coolaroo Recycling Fire
EPA provided mobile air quality monitoring for this major blaze that created potential health issues through smoke inhalation. The fire focused attention on the growing issue of stockpiling of recycling waste and led to the creation of a major initiative in the Resource Recycling Audit Taskforce
Recycling Taskforce
The establishment of the Victorian Government Resource Recovery Facilities Audit Taskforce chaired by EPA with senior representatives from the emergency services was the first initiative of its kind to understand the emerging issue of managing the recycling industry. By the end of the last financial year the Taskforce had conducted almost 300 inspections.
PFAS
EPA has taken a lead in managing and understanding the potential risk from PFAS (Per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) particularly in East Gippsland where advice was issued not to consumer ducks, eel and carp from the Heart and Dowd Morass areas.
With PFAS a national issue, EPA is also leading a PFAS National Environment Management Plan.
Peat Fires
The largest deployment of mobile air quality monitoring equipment ever undertaken by EPA occurred over several weeks when fires broke out in peat bogs in the state’s southwest. Nine mobile units provided 24/7 monitoring alerting local residents and emergency service workers to the presence of dangerous carbon monoxide.
“It has been a successful year for EPA. We have developed our people and technology resources and have not just greater capability but capacity as well,” Dr Wilkinson said.
“The new year brings exciting opportunities for the organisation to show Victorians that we are ready to step up to meet their expectations to prevent environmental harm and prosecute those responsible for the pollution.”
Read more about EPA's achievements at epa.vic.gov.au/ar2018