Spilled milk has cost a Gippsland transport company a fine of $8,060 from Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).
EPA Gippsland Regional Manager Jessica Bandiera says spillage from the dairy industry is more of a threat to the environment than many people realise.
“In this case, EPA issued Leongatha company Peter Stoitse Transport Pty Ltd with a Pollution Abatement Notice (PAN); a legal instruction to take measures to prevent and contain any milk spills,” Ms Bandiera said.
“By issuing a PAN, EPA gave the company the opportunity to avoid a fine if the work was done satisfactorily within the 30-day deadline,” she said.
“An EPA inspection revealed only some of the work had been started and none of it was complete when the deadline arrived,” she said.
“A Pollution Abatement Notices is a legally enforceable remedial tool; EPA takes compliance with such notices seriously and will hold duty holders to account for non-compliance”.
From farm to transport and processing, milk spillage can be a problem in Victoria’s dairying areas. Milk spilled on the farm can pollute the soil and find its way into the nearest waterway, and any lost in transport or processing can enter the nearest creek or river through a stormwater drain.
“Spills like that cost the industry valuable produce and deteriorating milk entering a waterway can be harmful or fatal to wildlife and livestock, or fish and other aquatic life,” Ms Bandiera said.
“Stormwater drains are only designed to carry water to local waterways; any significant amount of spilled milk should be contained and directed into the sewer system, which will take it to a treatment plant,” she said.
“In this case, EPA was concerned that milk was being spilled as it was being pumped from tankers. The PAN even offered examples of how to contain and dispose of spilled milk in compliance with the Environment Protection Act 1970.”
Farmers, transport companies and milk processors can find a guide to the proper storage and handling of liquids on the EPA website, at: www.epa.vic.gov.au/business-and-industry/guidelines/liquid-storage-and-handling-guidance
“It is disappointing that an element of the milk supply chain has failed to comply with a notice to prevent harm to the environment,” Ms Bandiera said.
“Gippsland is one of Victoria’s highest producing milk regions and everyone in the supply chain is responsible for protecting the environment from the harmful effects of milk entering waterways,” she said.
“The message for every part of the dairy industry is clear; if you don’t do the right thing by the environment and the community, there can be consequences for your business reputation and your bottom line”.
Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2008, the company has the right to have the decision to issue the infringement notice reviewed or alternatively to have the matter heard and determined by a court.
EPA is now preparing for new legislation to take effect in 2020, that will give it a stronger focus on prevention and substantially increase potential penalties.
The legislation introduces a criminally enforceable General Environmental Duty, a responsibility for anyone whose activities may involve pollution to take reasonable steps to eliminate risk to human health and the environment.
Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).