Smeaton company Unigrain has been fined nearly $8000 over the leak of an oily substance that contaminated stormwater and a nearby creek.
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Environment Protection Authority Victoria officers discovered a yellow liquid leaking into a stormwater drain while conducting a routine license inspection at the 3720 Creswick-Newstead Road site.
EPA north west region manager Dr Scott Pigdon said the leak from a 1000 litre intermediate bulk container created a yellow foam and oily sheen on the surface of a nearby stormwater holding dam.
The same oily sheen appeared in a creek more than a kilometre away, and a laboratory analysis of samples from the container, the dam and the creek found they all contained saturated fats and monounsaturated fats.
“A leak of this kind might not be an obvious threat to human health, but the oily sheen could create an environmental hazard to aquatic life, like tiny invertebrates, crustaceans, fish and plants due to light and oxygen reduction in the waterway,” Dr Pigdon said.
“EPA expects duty holders to have systems, processes and controls in place to ensure that any of their operations do not cause impacts on the environment like this.
“Their EPA Licences include conditions designed to prevent adverse effects such as air and water discharges, noise and odour.”
EPA expects duty holders to have systems, processes and controls in place to ensure that any of their operations do not cause impacts on the environment like this.
- Dr Scott Pigdon
Unigrain Pty Ltd began a clean up during the site inspection, and has removed the contaminants from the stormwater holding dam.
Unigrain director Andrew May said in a statement Unigrain worked to solve the leak.
“The matter relates to a leak of a very small volume (a few litres) of canola oil from storage which we utilise as an animal feed ingredient,” he said.
“UniGrain worked cooperatively with the EPA to resolve the matter, including a plan to install additional bunding to allow for improved management of liquid storage moving forward.”
It is not the first time the company has been punished for environmental damage.
EPA fined Unigrain almost $8000 in August last year after a blue dye was released into a nearby waterway.
It was reported the company failed to follow correct spill procedures.
About 20 litres of the dye was spilt and could have caused harm to aquatic life in the creek, as well as having damaged the local environment.
The most recent fine comes after a tough few months for the company.
Two men were injured in May after an explosion in a boiler at the site.
READ MORE: Two injured in Smeaton blast
The company has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or to have the matter heard and determined by a court under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2008.
EPA encourages members of the public to report any suspected pollution to call the EPA hotline on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
