Officers from EPA Victoria and Darebin Council made multiple unannounced compliance and enforcement inspections last Thursday (12 Oct) on businesses around Edgars Creek and Edwardes Lake, Reservoir.
The waterways are highly valued by the local community who have seen them hit by too much pollution in recent years.
“We visited businesses that are close by the creek and lake and which could have an immediate impact on them. We want businesses to understand their legal responsibility to act to protect the environment,” North Metropolitan Regional Manager Jeremy Settle said.
“We carried out 17 inspections on businesses including vehicle workshops, kitchen assembly businesses and food manufacturers.
“The officers gave advice on 43 compliance matters that need to be addressed around improving bunding, liquid storage and handling and spill kits. We also issued two notices to separate businesses that require immediate rectification.
“We’ll revisit them in a couple of weeks to ensure they have taken action to rectify the issues raised. If we think there hasn’t been enough done, or if we think the environment faces a more immediate threat, we will use our regulatory powers.”
Mr Settle said the joint program sent a very clear message to business and the community that protecting the environment was being taken very seriously by EPA Vic and Darebin Council.
