Philip John Rollond and his business Tara Hills Pastoral fined more than $350,000 for damaging Adelaide Hills environment with dumped oil, tyres

A farmer and his company have been whacked with a monster fine for illegal dumping on his Adelaide Hills farm. Here’s what he dumped.

Philip John Rollond has been fined more than $350,000 for environmentally damaging dumping at a Tungkillo property. Picture: Greg Higgs

An Adelaide Hills murder witness and his company has been fined more than $350,000 for dumping oil drums and old tyres on his farm.

Philip John Rollond, “the boss” of Tara Hills Pastoral, appeared in the Environment, Resources and Development Court last month after he and the business were found guilty at trial of charges including environmental harm by pollution.

The court heard the business intentionally dumped into a pit mechanical waste including tyres, oil, used truck filters and 44-gallon drums – some containing oil – in the weeks leading up to March 2016.

It also heard Rollond was involved in the day-to-day livestock farming, trucking and landscaping businesses on the land at Tungkillo, near Woodside.

Senior Judge Michael Durrant said Rollond had “instructed” the dumping take place.

Tyres, oil, used truck filters and 44-gallon drums, some of which contained oil, dumped on the Adelaide Hills farm. Picture: Environmental Protection Authority.

The court heard during the trial several environmental experts said the waste – dumped near a creek and swamp area – had the potential to cause “serious environmental harm” for up to 30 years.

In September 2017, the Supreme Court heard Rollond was a witness to the murder of Kevin Skeyhill – who was stabbed to death at his home by his neighbour Darren Geoffrey Lorke, over a stormwater and fencing dispute.

Rollond was prosecuted for the dumping after an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA ordered Rollond to clean up the pollution – which he failed to do.

Kevin Skeyhill, 51, was murdered at his Tungkillo home in September 2017. Picture: Facebook.

Rollond gave evidence as a witness during the trial against Darren Lorke. Picture: Greg Higgs

In February 2018, police told the EPA Rollond had disposed of contaminated soil and tyres in a quarry on the Tungkillo property.

Excavation revealed soil that smelt of hydrocarbon and contained vehicle parts including oil filters, rubbish and tyres.

The court found oil-contaminated soil from the pit had been transferred into the quarry.

During a trial prosecuted by EPA, Tara Hills Pastoral was found guilty of causing serious environmental harm by pollution of the environment, and two counts of failure to comply with the direction of an authorised officer.

As director of Tara Hills Pastoral, Rollond was found guilty of two counts of intentionally causing serious environmental harm, four counts of failing to comply with a direction of an authorised officer and two counts of failing to comply with a clean-up order.

Judge Durrant fined Tara Hills Pastoral $242,500, Rollond $37,500 and ordered they cover the $60,000 in court costs from the EPA and the $2,494 victims of crime levy fee.

Both Tara Hills Pastoral and Rollond have launched appeals against the verdict.

The EPA’s director of compliance and investigations Steven Sergi said the conviction would serve as a strong deterrent for anyone considering violating the Environment Protection Act.

“Senior Judge Durrant has sent a strong message in his sentencing remarks that this type of environmental offending is serious and that failing to comply with a direction of an authorised officer and a clean-up order will not be tolerated,” he said.