A Hunter Valley concrete plant has been fined a total of $30,000 by the NSW Environment Protection Authority after an alleged repeat pollution incident.
EPA Director Hunter, Karen Marler said Miccon Industries, trading as Newcastle Readymix, had received a $15,000 fine from the EPA for allegedly discharging polluted water into the stormwater system.
“This is the second time in six months we’ve taken action against this company for similar breaches. They were fined $15,000 in July last year and now it’s happened again,” Ms Marler said.
Following a tip-off from a community member in December last year, EPA investigators traced the water pollution to a concrete plant at Adamstown operated by Miccon Industries.
EPA water sampling found very high levels of pH which had the potential to cause environmental damage.
“Miccon Industries has been specifically warned about alleged water pollution from its operation and has already received a $15,000 fine for a very similar offence.
“The company is on notice that the EPA will be monitoring their performance closely and further breaches may result in escalated regulatory action, such as prosecution,” Ms Marler said.
The EPA has also required Miccon to develop and implement a Surface Water Management Plan comprising surface water control measures to prevent water pollution incidents.
