Style Group Constructions fined $100k after Waverley Council takes court action over water pollution

A construction company has been fined $100,000 after a Sydney council took it to court for polluting water and creating what a magistrate described as the risk of an ‘eruption’.

The court heard the polluted waters enter the Royal Sydney Golf Club’s water catchment in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

A construction company has been slapped with a $100,000 fine after a council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs took it to court over water pollution that had the potential to cause an “eruption” at a golf course.

Style Group Constructions Pty Ltd (SGC), a professional building construction company that specialises in residential and commercial construction and renovations, faced Waverley Local Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to a charge of polluting waters.

Documents tendered to the court state that on December 24 2020, Waverley Council granted SGC conditional consent for the demolition of a house and the construction of a two-storey attached dual occupancy.

An artist’s impression of what the finished two-storey component would look like. Picture: Waverley Council

This construction included integrated parking, strata subdivision and a swimming pool at the rear of the property.

On July 29 2022, the council issued a conditional approval for a driveway to be constructed and carried out at the site.

However, the council received a complaint alleging unauthorised building works being done at the site.

In response to this complaint, the council’s ranger and building compliance officer, Darren Woodward, visited the site on October 1 2022.

What 59 Wallangra Rd, Dover Heights, looked like in 2021. Picture: Google Maps

Court documents state Mr Woodward noticed concrete slurry entering the council’s stormwater drain “without adequate erosion or sediment controls in place at the site”. Mr Woodward also observed sand and soil from the site running down the gutters.

According to council records, the stormwater pit on Kippara Road, at the corner of Hardy Street Dover Heights discharges into the Royal Sydney Golf Course water catchment area at Rose Bay.

On October 13, 2022, the council issued a penalty notice to SGC for the offence of polluting waters 12 days earlier.

An aerial view of the site. Picture: Maps Six

Lawyer Jonathan Ede, who represented Waverley Council, pointed out that this was an offence that “legislation takes very, very seriously”.

“This is an experienced building construction company, they should know the consequences if the proper measures are not in place,” Mr Ede said.

SGC’s solicitor, James Chi, pointed out that sand entering the drain wasn’t an issue.

“It is our submission that sand is not harmful when it blocks the drain,” Mr Chi said

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge told both parties polluting waters was “a serious matter”.

“(The) consequences if it were to escape into the waterways …(the) Royal Sydney Golf Club would have been affected by the eruption,” Ms Milledge said.

Ms Milledge ordered SGC to pay a $100,000 fine.