South Burnett Council faces million dollar fines over fat blocking sewer mains

A regional Qld council has been told to clean up its act or face millions of dollars in fine after repeated build-ups of fats, oil and grease blocked several sewer mains and leaked into public waterways.

(File photo) Tim Henderson, a "flusher" or trunk sewer technician holds a "fatberg" as he works in the intersection of a sewer. Sewer cleaners fight a grim war against giant "fatbergs" clogging the system. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

The South Burnett Regional Council has been told to clean up its act or face millions of dollars in fines amid accusations it allowed build-ups of fat, oil and grease to be released into a nearby creek and river and risked harm to the waterway.

The state Environment Department has issued an environment protection order to the council over ongoing problems with the levels of fat, oil and grease entering its sewer network, causing blockages and spillover into aquatic habitats.

Details of the failures were revealed in a January 25, 2024, letter to council chief executive Mark Pitt, published on the department’s website.

The letter, notifying Mr Pitt of the order, reveals the council has dealt with multiple problems caused by “significant” amounts of fats, oils and grease entering the sewers and travelling to its wastewater treatment plant.

These included two “large-scale” incidents in December 2021, and October 2023.

The state Environment Department issued an environment protection order to South Burnett Regional Council, revealing in a letter addressed to CEO Mark Pitt the organisation was in breach of two environment regulations as a result of its ongoing problems with fat and grease being dumped into the sewerage network.

In the December incident, the letter says a build-up of these waste materials blocked a sewer main and caused sewage to be “surcharging into a number of residential properties”.

The council had recorded seven sewer blockages from fat, grease and oil in the lead-up to the December incident, the notice says.

Following this the department wrote to the council recommending it monitor any industries which may have been the cause of this waste release into the network.

Almost two years later, one of the council’s sewer mains was blocked by a build-up of fat, grease and oil.

Then, on January 11, 2024, the council called the department’s pollution hotline to notify it of a large inflow of this waste into the treatment plant, affecting its ability to process it.

Environment officers inspected the site the next day and found “small globules” of fat, oil and grease “dispersed through vegetation in the drain” immediately downstream of the plant’s release point.

This drain directs waters to Kingaroy Creek, which runs into the Stuart River.

In its letter, the department says “ “it is likely that (fats, oil and grease) was released to Kingaroy Creek”, risking the waterways’ environment.

Six days later, on January 18, council-provided data showed the treated effluent quality was not compliant with environmental regulations, the letter says.

The department says it considers the council in breach of two environmental conditions by “failing to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise the risk to environmental harm”.

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In it letter to CEO Mark Pitt, the Environment Department says it was “likely” fat, oil and grease was released into the region’s waterways, including the Stuart River.

A council spokeswoman said while it was not responsible for the inflow of fat and grease into its sewers it “has taken responsibility for ensuring that the issue is addressed”.

She said it prompted “immediate and comprehensive actions” from the council, including emergency repairs at the treatment plant and a “thorough assessment” of the sewerage system.

“(The) council is fully committed to rectifying any environmental impact caused by this incident,” she said.

“This enhanced compliance action includes, as a first step, writing to all holders of trade waste permits reminding them of what can and cannot be deposited in the sewerage system, and the harm that can be caused from illegal dumping of material down the sewerage system.”

The department has ordered the council to monitor the affected environment twice a week until the regulations are complied with, and by April it must submit a report into how further problems will be prevented.

“(The) council also asks all residents of SBRC to use the sewerage system responsibly, and understand what can and cannot be flushed or deposited,” she said.

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Contravening the EPO can draw a fine of up to $3.48 million for corporations, the letter says.
Wilfully doing so could extend the maximum fine to more than $4.8 million.

South Burnett Regional Council has been contacted for comment.