Sunchem owner Michiel Pratt taken to court by Gympie council

The owner of a business destroyed in a spectacular fire which forced the closure of a nearby child care centre has faced a Gympie court on a total of 48 alleged offences.

Michiel Pratt has been taken to court by Gympie Regional Council over alleged development approval offences.

A well-known Gympie businessman is being pursued by the Gympie Regional Council for multiple alleged development offences.

Businessman Michiel Pratt appeared in Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday, January 18, on 16 charges of failing as an executive officer to ensure a corporation complies with the 2016 Planning Act.

The charges were brought against him by Gympie Regional Council in relation to a chemical fire that broke out at Sunchem Cleaning Products’ factory on Tozer Park Rd in the early hours of November 20, 2022.

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Aftermath of the chemical fire at Sunchem Quality Cleaning Products in Gympie. Picture: Barb Bailey-Dahlheimer.

The fire temporarily closed down the neighbouring Parkside Early Learning Centre and residents nearby reported ongoing health concerns, including chest infection-like symptoms and a significant lingering smell, which was particularly pungent at night-time.

The incident also renewed frustrations from some who said the factory should never have been built in a residential area.

Heritage City Electrical and Karma 2 Qld, both of which Mr Pratt is listed as a director, were included in the mention and each also is charged with 16 counts of contravening a development approval.

Michiel Pratt owner and executive for Karma 2 QLD and Heritage City Electrical.

All three sets of charges were dated between November 11, 2021 and November 25, 2022.

The court heard how this was the first mention of the matters and a brief of evidence was ordered for the defence.

The matter will again be mentioned with a phone appearance allowed by both parties at Gympie Magistrates Court on March 7, 2024.

Originally published as Sunchem owner Michiel Pratt taken to court by Gympie council