Tara Murray
Sunshine North paint and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel has been fined for noise pollution.
The Environment Protection Authority this week announced the company had been fined $8261 for breaching a remedial notice.
The company received the notice in December 2020, requiring it to modify or install controls on its activities and processes by February this year to reduce noise, but the company failed to comply.
EPA western metropolitan regional manager Stephen Lansdell said sound monitoring equipment installed three days after the deadline showed people in nearby homes were still being exposed to too much noise.
“The official notice from EPA specified noise limits of 58 decibels during the day, 51 dB during the evening, and 47 dB at night,” Mr Lansdell said.
“We installed EPA monitoring equipment at a home in Barwon Avenue, Sunshine North, on March 1 and left it there for just over a week.
“Data showed noise from the plant in McIntyre Road was consistently exceeding the limits.”
The sound monitoring found that noise levels detected were up to 15 dBA over the limit inthe evening and between three and 11 dBA over the limit during the day.
Mr Lansdell said the company is still required to comply with the notice, and EPA continues to actively regulate the site and work with the local community.
“I’d like to say thank you to our local community. This investigation, the [notice] and the fine all started with routine inspections by EPA officers together with local intelligence and pollution reports from residents.
“The clear message to all businesses is that if you fail to comply with EPA requirements to protect the community and the environment, you will be held accountable.”
The company is also currently subject to EPA notices requiring measures to reduce odour from the site.
