Palmerston Norblast Industrial Solutions charged with intentionally contravening pollution notice

A Palmerston business has been charged with intentionally contravening a pollution notice. Read what the inspectors say they found.

NT EPA inspectors reported alleged pollution risksincluding cracked, open and damaged waste containers at Norblast Industrial Solutions, in Pinelands.

Leaking chemical containers labelled as “f—ked”, damaged 7000L drums of waste, and stormwater drains spewing chemical discharge were allegedly found on a Palmerston industrial site.

Norblast Industrial Solutions has been charged with intentionally contravening a pollution notice, after 14 inspections by the environmental watchdog over four years.

The Environmental Protection Authority alleged the pollution to the Pinelands sandblaster industrial site and nearby properties posed a threat to both the environment and human health. The EPA issued a Pollution Abatement Notice against Norblast in August 2021.

The EPA alleged inspectors found industrial chemicals, waste and oils in warped, leaking, opened, cracked, and damaged containers.

Inspectors allegedly photographed one 7000L container of waste oil with visible damage, and another leaking chemical container labelled “f —ked”.

One inspector reported a strong whiff of hydrocarbon odours, while spotting “tainted” puddles and heavy hydrocarbon staining on unsealed areas.

NT EPA inspectors reported alleged pollution risks including leaking containers at Norblast Industrial Solutions, in Pinelands.

The EPA alleged there was also waste abrasive blasting material on the soil and in the drainage lines, meaning it had flowed into neighbouring properties.

The watchdog said the zinc, hydrocarbons and waste mixtures had the potential to “damage the environment, cause environmental harm and impact human health”.

“There were no effective measures to prevent any wastes or contaminants from the activities at the premises from washing into or leaking,” it said.

NT EPA inspectors reported warped checmical containers and other alleged pollution risks at Norblast Industrial Solutions, in Pinelands.

“(Inspectors) confirmed that activities at the premises have polluted and are polluting the environment both on and off the premises and have caused environmental harm.”

The EPA ordered Norblast to investigate the damage, and remove the busted, contaminated containers.

It said the damage had extended to a nearby vacant block of crown land, on McFarland Rd.

NT EPA inspectors reported alleged pollution risks in drainage areas at Norblast Industrial Solutions, in Pinelands.

The government-owned land was initially picked as the new Darwin Youth Justice Centre, however protests from nearby Pinelands businesses led to the proposal being ditched in 2019.

Sixteen months after the pollution notice, Managing Director and owner Todd Andrew McCourt told the court he would be contesting the charge in his upcoming Darwin Local Court hearing on May 4.

NT EPA inspectors reported alleged pollution risks including uncovered waste at Norblast Industrial Solutions, in Pinelands.

Prosecutor Jon Bortoli said the EPA would be calling three witnesses, including experts in storage rules.

Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris raised concerns on December 13 that the businessman had not hired a lawyer, given the serious charges in the “complex area” of law.

“I don’t believe I need one,” Mr McCourt told Ms Morris.

“They’ve been on my case since 2018.”

The Norblast website said it was an “environmentally conscious” business that “employs a number of controls to assist in the preservation of the environment”.

Originally published as Palmerston Norblast Industrial Solutions charged with intentionally contravening pollution notice