EPA fines DIC Australia Auburn for turning Duck River purple

A western Sydney company has copped an $88K fine after polluting a river and making it turn purple.

An Auburn ink manufacturer responsible for polluting Duck River with purple dye will pay $88,000 towards environmental and clean-up programs and the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) costs of investigating the incident.

In April 2020, DIC Australia started to produce a purple batch of dye at its factory in Auburn and when water containing the dye entered the site’s stormwater system unseen, the company failed to detect and remove it.

The water containing purple dye then overflowed into an outlet pipe running directly to Duck River.

Pumps in the site’s stormwater retention pit were also turned on, which discharged more water containing purple dye into the river.

EPA executive director of regulatory operations Steve Beaman said the incident was reported by concerned members of the public who noticed Duck River had turned a deep shade of purple on June 11, 2020.

The river turned a deep purple.

“Duck River is a southern tributary of the Parramatta River,” Mr Beaman said.

“This incident had the potential to cause harm to the animals and plants living in Duck River, and the wider catchment. Thankfully on this occasion no actual harm was observed, and the purple dye dissipated within a few days.”

Mr Beaman said DIC Australia should have protected the local waterway by removing the contaminated water from its stormwater system to ensure it did not not reach the river.

As part of the fine, DIC Australia will train staff about its environmental obligations, engage an independent expert to audit the site’s stormwater and liquid waste management systems and then implement the expert’s recommendations.

The company will also pay $5000 to Clean Up Australia and $25,000 to the NSW Environmental Trust for general environmental work. DIC Australia must also pay $58,000 to the EPA for the legal and investigation costs it incurred in relation to the incident.

DIC Australia also cleaned the stormwater pits at the site to prevent further purple dye reaching the river.

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