East Gippsland Region Water Corporation (EGRWC) has been fined $9,246 for failing to comply with a regulatory notice from Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).
EPA Gippsland Regional Manager Jessica Bandiera says the case began in November 2022, when the company began discharging recycled wastewater to a waterway from its Newmerella Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“The corporation’s EPA licence allows for discharges when necessary, such as in times of heavy rain or flooding, but the licence places strict conditions on the quality and amount of recycled water being discharged,” Ms Bandiera said.
“EPA puts those conditions there to protect the community and the environment,” she said.
Under the licence, EGRWC is required to provide information that explains the breach and shows the strict conditions are being met. The notification allowed EPA officers to inspect the treatment plant in time, but the corporation had failed to provide sufficient information.
EPA issued an Information Gathering Notice that gave the corporation a firm deadline to provide the information, but the corporation failed to respond in time.
“The conditions in any EPA licence are clearly stated in the documentation and must be taken seriously. EPA won’t hesitate to apply sanctions to protect the environment and people’s health,” Ms Bandiera said.
Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution
