By Tate Papworth
Western suburbs car wreckers are getting their environmental compliance into gear.
The Officer for the Protection of the Local Environment (OPLE) program has yielded significant results across Brimbank and Hobsons Bay.
Brimbank and Hobsons Bay OPLE Claire Sonego has been visiting car wrecking and scrap metal businesses to get them to reduce stormwater contamination caused by oil and fuel run off.
Ms Sonego, who has been visiting businesses since early this year, said many had made changes that would have positive flow-on effects on wetlands.
A Williamstown North business was issued a clean up notice and a pollution abatement notice in April.
This month, it passed the follow up inspection.
“A joint inspection uncovered oil was leaking from skip bins full of engines and seeping into a stormwater pit,” Ms Sonego said.
“I issued a clean-up notice to remove the oil on the ground and install controls to prevent oil running into the pit.
“The wreckers also backed on to a creek that flows into a nearby marine sanctuary and wetlands conservation reserve, so it was important we got the leak fixed.”
Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said the program had a vital role in helping the council achieve its environmental goals.
“Brimbank has invested significant time and resources to ensure the OPLE officer role is effective and achieves good environmental outcomes,” she said.
Earlier this month, the program was extended until July, 2019.
