Department of Environment, Science and Innovation ping Chinchilla-based waste operator for illegal stockpiling
A Chinchilla-based waste operator has been slapped with a hefty fine for illegally stockpiling more than 4000 skip bins worth of construction and demolition waste.
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A Chinchilla-based waste operator has been penalised more than $133,000 for illegally stockpiling more than 25,000 tonnes of waste.
The penalty comes after the operator pleaded guilty to carrying out an environmentally relevant activity without the relevant environmental authority in Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 7, 2024.
The operator was charged after a search of the site found multiple trucks had been dumping waste at an unlicensed site.
The site, a former quarry near Chinchilla, was searched by police, in conjunction with investigators and compliance officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, after a tip off.
The investigation found 25,000 tonnes of waste had been dumped at the site from May 2021 to September 21.
The waste, mostly made up of construction and demolition material including bricks, timber, metal sheeting and plastic, equalled an estimated 4000 skip bins full.
According to the regulator, the operator did not hold the relevant licences during the operation, a regulation put in place to protect the environment.
Southeast compliance executive director Brad Wirth said this kind of operation posed serious threats to the community and environment.
“Without the appropriate licences, we the regulators have no way of knowing how these operations are run on a day-to-day basis and if important steps are being taken to protect the environment and the community,” Mr Wirth said.
The operator was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000, $8800.25 in investigation costs, $1500 in legal costs and $26,376.40 for annual fees avoided during the offending period.
“We hope that these recent enforcement outcomes through both the court proceedings … send a strong message to operators that if they don’t do the right thing, they can expect a significant penalty,” Mr Wirth said.
If you believe a waste facility might be unlicensed, or not meeting it’s environmental obligations, you can report it on the pollution hotline on 1300 130 372 or by sending an email to pollutionhotline@des.qld.gov.au.
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Originally published as Department of Environment, Science and Innovation ping Chinchilla-based waste operator for illegal stockpiling
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