Derwent Valley businessman in court over pollution that caused mass fish deaths

A man who runs a Derwent Valley waste storage company has faced court, charged with water pollution that allegedly caused mass fish deaths in the Plenty River. LATEST >

Brightsides Composting Plant owned by Jenkins Hire at Plenty near the Plenty River. Picture Chris Kidd

A MAN who runs a composting and waste management company in the Derwent Valley has faced court, charged with environmental pollution offences that allegedly caused mass fish deaths in the Plenty River.

Timothy Jenkins and his company Jenkins Hire, located at Plenty, each face a number of pollution-related charges following the alleged carnage in September 2020.

The Mercury previously reported that Jenkins Hire was issued with a “clean-up” notice from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) after it alleged a wastewater spill had contaminated Plenty River and the historic Salmon Ponds hatchery.

In 2020, the then-named The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment said the death tally included 120,000 brown trout fry 13,000 rainbow trout fry, 43 brook trout broodstock and 28 display fish.

Polluted water in Tasmania's Plenty River on September 23 2020, collected by a local resident. Picture: Supplied

Mr Jenkins and his company – which he will represent in court – are each charged with causing material environment harm by polluting the environment intentionally or recklessly and with the knowledge that material harm will or might result.

They are both charged with storing a controlled waste without authority, using land for the disposal of general waste, and causing a controlled waste to be stored in a manner reasonably likely to escape into the environment.

The company also faces four counts of conducting an activity that breaches a condition or restriction of a permit.

Mr Jenkins has not yet entered any pleas on behalf of himself or his company.

His defence lawyer told the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday they were still waiting on disclosure of documents.

Mr Jenkins will return to court on May 25.

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