Environmental offenders held accountable

The EPA inspects the Viva oil spill in January 2017. The spill put Sydney Harbour aquatic wildlife at risk.

The conviction and fine of a Sydney transport company owner who refused to answer questions about the transport and disposal of asbestos waste from a Darlington building site sends a strong message to rogue operators.

In December 2018, Sam Ali, the director of S A Civil (Aust) Pty Ltd, was convicted, fined $17,500 and ordered to pay the EPA’s legal costs of $5,000 by Parramatta Local Court, after being found guilty of three offences of failing to answer questions when required under the law by the EPA.

This conviction was followed by EPA fines as well as court hearings leading to recorded fines totalling $260,250 in just over one week alone, from March 11 to 20.

• The EPA fined Maxwell Ventures (Management) Pty Ltd $15,000 after mine water was allegedly discharged from the Malabar Coal Mine to Saltwater Creek in the Hunter Valley. Media release

• The EPA fined Aussie Skips Recycling Pty Ltd $30,000 for alleged offences related to dust emissions and operating outside hours permitted in their Environment Protection Licence. Media release 

• Trucking company Mainfreight Distribution Pty Ltd was fined $4,000 for allegedly failing to carry the required safety equipment while transporting dangerous goods in Mayfield West last year. Media release 

• The Land and Environment Court fined Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd $100,000 after about 500 litres of marine fuel oil leaked from a pipe at the company’s fuel import and storage terminal at Gore Cove on the lower North Shore in December 2016, polluting Sydney Harbour. Media release 

• The EPA fined Lion-Dairy & Drinks Pty Ltd $15,000 for not operating in a competent manner in an incident resulting in liquid sugar allegedly being discharged into Lion-Dairy & Drink’s wastewater treatment plant, at Wetherill Park. Media release 

• The EPA issued $39,000 in fines to three individuals and a company (Western Civil Group Pty Ltd) for alleged illegal dumping of over 100 tonnes of building and demolition waste containing asbestos, on a suburban block at Leppington, unloading the material during daylight hours. Media release 

• The NSW Land and Environment Court convicted and fined Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited $38,500 after it pleaded guilty to breaching its environment protection licence for a blast at its Rocglen Mine near Gunnedah in August 2016, following successful prosecution by the EPA. Media release

• A director of a company that illegally stored waste, including asbestos, was convicted and fined $33,750 and ordered to pay $24,500 in legal costs by the NSW Land and Environment Court, following a successful prosecution by the EPA. Media release.

For more information about the EPA’s regulatory tools, see the EPA Compliance Policy.

The EPA investigates all reports of suspected illegal dumping and encourages anyone with a concern, or knowledge of suspected dumping to contact the 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.

• See the regulatory action from November 2018 to the end of March 2019.