Carlton petrol station fined for environmental breach

A NSW-based company running a petrol station in Carlton has been fined $5928 for failing to show it was obeying an environmental notice from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Victoria.

The notice followed an inspection by EPA officers who found problems with contaminated soil, groundwater and escaping fuel vapour at the site on the corner of Nicholson St and Alexandra Pde.

They issued an Environmental Action Notice, requiring the company to take action to fix the problems and provide a progress report verified by an independent EPA-appointed environmental auditor.

Along with paying the fine, the EPA said DIB Group Pty Ltd, of Auburn, NSW, was still required to prepare and action a plan to fix the problems at the Carlton site, and provide the independent report to confirm they are making progress.

EPA Western Metropolitan acting Regional Manager Michael Collins-Levy said there was a message in this for all businesses.

“A regulatory notice from EPA is a clear set of instructions with a clear deadline, and those instructions are there to protect the community and the environment,” Mr Collins-Levy said.

EPA gives the recipient every chance to comply, and most businesses do the right thing.

“We won’t hesitate to use sanctions where they are needed. You can’t just fail to comply with the notice and expect it to go away.”

Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the operator has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.

Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online.