Enviroland Site Pty Ltd slapped with Environmental Protection Order

Despite an approved increase to waste stockpiles a stone’s throw from a Kamerunga school, a Cairns garbage processor has been slapped with enforcement orders after allowing a huge mound of rubbish to get out of hand.

The Department of the Environment has taken action against Enviroland for breaches of licence regulations that limit the size of a waste stockpile at the site. Picture: Supplied

Despite an approved increase to waste stockpiles a stone’s throw from a school, a Cairns garbage processor has been slapped with enforcement orders after allowing a huge mound of rubbish to get out of hand.

In March 2023 director of Enviroland Site Pty Ltd Rohan Murphy was ordered to reduce the size of stockpiled waste and recovered materials.

That order was amended in August 2023 to force a new compliance deadline of February 2024.

But the enforcement action has not been finalised.

Enviroland is located at Lower Freshwater Rd. Picture: Supplied

In November 2024 a condition of a new waste disposal permit issued by the environmental authority stated the total amount of construction and demolition waste stored at the site must be progressively reduced to achieve a maximum of 2400m3 by November 25, 2026, with no less than a 2000m3 reduction in volume by May 26, 2025.

Construction and demolition waste was estimated to exceed the permitted amount by 15,195 tonnes last year, according to a Department of Environment compliance officer, who stated breaches amounted to a “failure to comply with the general environmental duty under the Environmental Protection Act”.

The Enviroland site backs directly on to the rear of the Peace Lutheran College and sits 1km from the Freshwater Primary School.

The 12.28ha property is also directly adjacent to a row of homes on Mistletoe Cl.

Nearby resident Jessie Zell who’s Kamerunga property backs onto the waste pile said since Enviroland took over the site from Medalfield Pty Ltd in April 2020 there have been multiple breaches.

“What concerns me the most is this is the second time the department was made aware after they were ordered to bring the pile down,” he said.

“It continued without any regard for the cyclone season and it’s not a small breach, it’s significant in volume, you can see it from the highway, its cliff of rubbish.

“I think they have very little regard for the government agencies enforcing the rules.”

The Department of Environment stated action to address non-compliance had been taken including the issuing of Environmental Protection Orders.

“The department recently worked with the operator to amend the conditions of the environmental authority which included changes (increases) to the approved waste stockpile sizes and to set time frames for the reduction of existing stockpiles,” a spokesman said.

“The department will continue to monitor the site’s compliance with their environmental authority conditions and will respond appropriately to any noncompliance.”

In response to the enforcement order Mr Murphy applied for an extension of six months in August 2023 due to challenges associated with reducing the size of the waste pile which included the weather, lack of staff and machinery issues.

It was stated in the 2023 Environmental Protection Order that breaches of waste stockpiles increased risk of environmental harm, including dust, odour, storm and groundwater contamination as well as the piles being an eyesore.

Mr Murphy has been contacted for comment.

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Originally published as Enviroland Site Pty Ltd slapped with Environmental Protection Order