EPA to take developers of Croydon site to court over alleged illegal lead dumping

THE Environment Protection Authority is taking the developers of a Croydon site to court after waste containing lead was allegedly dumped at a domestic tip.

The case will be heard in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court.

THE Environment Protection Authority is taking the developers of a Croydon site to court after waste containing lead was allegedly dumped at a domestic tip.

The EPA has charged four businesses and a manager after 800 tonnes of contaminated soil and tile fragments were taken from the former industrial site on Vinter Ave to the Carroll Road Landfill at Clarinda.

EPA metro region acting manager Steve Pugh said the load was taken to a domestic waste landfill that was not licensed to accept­ waste contaminated with heavy metals, including lead.

He said the charges came after the authority was tipped off by a landfill operator.

“The soil at the landfill had to be removed at a cost of approximately­ $400,000,” Mr Pugh said.

The EPA has charged the developers of the Croydon property, Initial Homes Victoria­ Pty Ltd and Vinter Avenue Pty Ltd, with failing to comply with their obligations concerning the safe transport of the waste.

The EPA has charged waste management and recycling business Resourceco, and a manager of that company, over the transportation and dumping of the contaminated waste.

Environmental consultants Watson Environmental Assessments has also been charged with failing to comply with regulations that apply to the transport of prescribed industrial waste.

It is alleged the company provided a report that downgraded the contamination status of the waste.

The developers were cleaning up as part of redeveloping land with a long history of commercial and industrial uses.

Initial Homes Victoria and Resourceco declined to comment, while Vinter Avenue­ Pty Ltd and Watson Environmental Assessments could not be reached.

The case is listed for the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on December 6.