Sunchem owner Michiel Pratt appears in Gympie Magistrates Court

The owner of a business destroyed in a spectacular fire which forced the closure of a nearby child care centre has faced court again on 48 charges brought by the Gympie Regional Council.

The owner of a business destroyed in a spectacular fire which forced the closure of a nearby child care centre has faced a Gympie court on a total of 48 alleged offences.

A well-known businessman faced Gympie Magistrates Court again on Thursday as the case brought against him by the Gympie Regional Council moves through the courts.

Michiel Pratt, owner of Sunchem Quality Cleaning Products, faces 48 charges, including 16 counts of failing as an executive officer to ensure a corporation complied with the 2016 Planning Act and another 16 counts of contravening a development approval.

The charges relate to a chemical fire at the Sun-Chem Cleaning Products’ factory on Tozer Park Rd in the early hours of November 20, 2022.

The aftermath of the chemical blaze that destroyed Sun-Chem’s factory on November 20, 2020.

The factory fire caused a childcare centre to temporarily close down, with nearby residents reporting some health concerns, including symptoms similar to a chest infection.

The case was first mentioned in Gympie Magistrate Court in January 2024.

Mr Pratt’s lawyer, Cara Erskine from P&E lawyers, on Thursday requested to adjourn the matter due to “ongoing discussions”.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes agreed and scheduled Mr Pratt’s next court hearing for February 6, 2025.

Mr Pratt was excused from attending his next court appearance in person.

The aftermath of the chemical blaze that destroyed Sun-Chem’s factory on November 20, 2020.