A Geelong man has been fined $1,110 and still faces a clean up after failing to comply with Environmental Protection Authority’s instructions over a pile of industrial waste at Sunshine.
EPA officers came across the site on Third Avenue, Sunshine in August when they were on the way to inspect another site.
The site was scattered with construction and demolition waste consisting of broken tiles, plastics, metals, timber, concrete, glass, bricks, polystyrene and materials containing asbestos.
The fine is not the end of the story with the EPA still requiring the man to have the plan prepared and eventually have the waste safely removed for proper disposal.
EPA western metropolitan regional manager Stephen Lansdell said the first priority was to make sure the clean-up was conducted properly.
“We issued the man with an environmental action notice [EAN] requiring him to engage a specialist contractor to assess the site and produce a plan for the safe removal of any waste,” he said.
“With asbestos, it must be removed completely, then transported for disposal under strict conditions for the safety of the community and the environment.
“The EAN gave the man a clear deadline for having the plan prepared and reporting it to EPA, but he failed to comply.”
The man has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.
Pollution can be reported to 1300 372 842 or epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution
