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Holding polluters to account


2017-18 highlights

Holding polluters to account

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As Victoria’s environmental regulator, a key part of our role is taking strong, timely and effective action to use our authority and influence to uphold environmental standards, drive improvement and give Victorians confidence that polluters will be held to account.

In 2017–18, EPA successfully completed 22 prosecutions, arising from 15 separate environmental incidents. The largest fine imposed in these cases was a fine of $125,000 against a waste assessment company that deliberately attempted to pass off approximately 800 tonnes of prescribed industrial waste as cleanfill. Throughout the year, EPA issued more than 12,000 fines for breaches of the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Aided by the use of our drone technology, we issued 392 pollution abatement notices and 180 clean up notices for sites around Victoria.

A key focus in 2017–18 has also been strengthening our processes, procedures and resources through the development of a Sanctions Strategy. This strategy is integral to EPA’s transformation and aims to provide a strong, specific and general deterrent that holds individual offenders to account and meets community and government expectations of our credibility.

Over the last 12 months, we also recruited additional regulatory, legal and investigative staff to build our capacity, and appointed 46 Environment Protection Officers.

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EPA has matters heard in the Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court and VCAT.

Successfully completed 22 prosecutions, arising from 15 separate environmental incidents.

The largest fine imposed in these cases was a fine of $125,000 against a waste assessment company that deliberately attempted to pass off approximately 800 tonnes of prescribed industrial waste as cleanfill.

Recruited additional legal and investigative staff to build our capacity, including the appointment of 46 authorised Environment Protection Officers.

Throughout the year, EPA issued more than 12,000 fines for breaches of the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Aided by the use of our drone technology, we issued 392 Pollution Abatement Notices and 180 clean up notices.

EPA collects data from a range of sources to inform prosecutions, including drone technology

Page last updated on 31 Dec 2018