The South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has successfully prosecuted a machinery dealer for the discharge of hydrocarbon-contaminated water, a listed pollutant, from its vacant site in Mount Barker.
The company pleaded guilty in the Environment Resources & Development Court to breaching the Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2003 in January 2012, when an employee discharged the contaminated water into the stormwater drainage system.
The successful prosecution is for a breach of clause 17(1)(b) of the Water Quality Policy in section 34 (2)(b) of the Environment Protection Act 1993. This is a category B offence with a maximum penalty of $4,000.
A conviction was recorded against the company, which was fined $1,200, and ordered to pay prosecution costs of $800 and a victims of crime levy $160 on this single count.
EPA Executive Director, Operations Andrew Wood reiterated that the EPA was particularly pleased with the conviction, and the fine handed down. “A conviction sends a message of deterrence to those individuals who might consider such illegal action,” he added.
