Cleanaway Solid Waste fined $33k for New Chum contamination

A major waste disposal company has been fined $33,000 after a court found it had unintentionally contaminated an Ipswich creek catchment during heavy rain in 2021.

A waste management company responsible for solid waste services in New Chum has been fined $32,500 after heavy rain two years ago contaminated a local waterway.

Cleanaway Solid Waste Pty Ltd pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday, July 17 to two of five counts of contravening a condition of an environmental authority.

Three counts of contravening a condition of an environmental authority were dismissed by the magistrate after new facts were presented.

The court heard flooding in late February, 2021 caused contaminated water to flow into a nearby catchment.

One of the charges related to a “chum pond” in Chum Street Basin. Water was released from the pond and flowed down the street into a catchment area nearby, the court was told.

The second charge related to a similar offence in another catchment area close to the Chum Street Basin.

Cleanaway’s New Chum site.

Department of Environment and Science prosecutor Stephen Keim, SC, said that had environmental harm occurred at the site it would have been a more serious breach.

“Environmental harm is not alleged,” Mr Keim said.

“Had environmental harm occurred that would be an aggravating factor, particularly in the case of the chum pond the levels of suspended solids were exceeded.’’

Cleanaway defence lawyer Daniel Caruana said his client was a good corporate citizen and essentially reported themselves, as well as helping with investigations.

Magistrate Jason Schubert agreed but said the ponds were not large enough to cope with the conditions.

“The offending occurred when we had a much wetter than normal month in March, 2021 but rainfall never exceeded the one-in-10-year, 24 hour period (level),” he said.

“As a result of the offending there was no actual harm caused to the environment.

Cleanaway has been fined $32,500. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“The defendant company has made significant efforts towards co-operating with authorities including … granting access to the site, making admissions, providing sample of results which was effectively (reporting) themselves, but they also had an obligation to do so.’’

Mr Schubert said he was satisfied there was genuine remorse.

He fined the company $32,500, with no conviction recorded.

It was also ordered to pay the department’s legal costs and $3367 in investigation costs.

Another 12 alleged offences relating to the matter were listed for mention and adjourned to October 16.

Those alleged offences include 10 counts of contravening a condition of an environmental authority, one count of contravening an environmental authority and one count of environmental nuisance.

Originally published as Cleanaway Solid Waste fined $33k for New Chum contamination