Regulation in Action
The EPA takes regulatory action to protect our environment by different means including prosecutions and enforceable undertakings. Read about some of our actions and incentives during the past months.
EPA issues Metropolitan Collieries Clean-Up Notice for landslip
The EPA issued a Clean-Up Notice to Metropolitan Collieries Pty Ltd in response to a landslip that occurred on 8 August 2023 at the colliery in Helensburgh, impacting Camp Gully Creek.
The mine reported the incident to the EPA following more than 80 mm of rain leading up to the incident. An approximately 600m2 section of steep embankment below the mine’s surface work site slumped, causing a significant amount of sediment to enter the Creek. The area that slumped is not part of the mine’s active operations and was not being disturbed at the time of the incident. Read more
Landowner to pay over $200,000 for asbestos waste offences
In Sydney a landowner has been convicted and fined $189,000 for the transport of almost 1400 truckloads of construction waste, including asbestos, to a premises he managed in Arcadia, a semi-rural suburb in northern Sydney.
Paul Mouawad (also known as Boulos Isaac) pleaded guilty to two charges in the Land and Environment Court for the transport of waste and resulting land pollution at the Arcadia site over approximately seven months in 2017.
The landowner has separately been issued with a clean-up notice in respect of the premises and has until December 2023 to remediate the site. The EPA will continue to monitor compliance. Read more
Sydney Water to pay over $865k after huge sewage overflow
Sydney Water Corporation has been convicted and fined $365,625 and separately agreed to pay $500,000 to environmental projects, after around 16 million litres of raw sewage resulted in the relocation of 39 residents in Naremburn in 2020.
Sydney Water was fined in the Land and Environment Court for three related offences. It also entered into an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the EPA to address concerns regarding the condition of the collapsed sewage pipe and maintenance hole, and their failure to immediately notify authorities of the incident.
The EU commits $500,000 in funding to North Sydney Council, Willoughby City Council and the Aboriginal Heritage Office to assist with a variety of environmental projects including works within the Flat Rock Creek catchment. Read more
REDcycle clean up reaches milestone
Coles and Woolworths have met their immediate obligations under the Clean-up Notices issued by the EPA with more than 5000 tonnes of soft plastics moved to safe storage.
The notices required the supermarkets to address the potential fire and pollution risk posed by 15 soft plastic stockpiles accumulated during the REDcycle soft plastics collection program.
The supermarkets have until May 2024 to find a long-term solution for the material including either reprocessing it, exporting it for reprocessing offshore, or, as a last resort, sending it to landfill. Read more
The ABC’s War on Waste was back on our screens recently with a new mission, reminding us that more action is needed in reducing how much waste we generate. If you missed it, catch up on ABC iView.
In the first episode it was great to see our Director of Regulatory Operations Adam Gilligan join Craig Reucassel. Adam discussed the role we’re playing following the collapse of REDcycle, including how we’re regulating the 5200 tonnes of stockpiled soft-plastics.
EPA issues two penalty notices to Veolia for waste offences
Two penalty notices have been issued to Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Ltd totalling $30,000. The fines follow the alleged detection of waste leaking from containers onto a public road during transport between the Crisps Creek Intermodal Facility and Woodlawn Landfill, Tarago. Read more
Measures in place to stop Tumut odour issue
In response to the recent ongoing odour issue impacting residents in Tumut and Gilmore, the EPA issued a prevention notice and is requiring Tumut Waste Pty Ltd to restrict the volume and types of waste that can be accepted at its Bellettes Landfill.
We have been working with the licensee since 19 July 2023 to implement immediate mitigation measures with strict conditions in place to reduce odours. Read more
Strengthening forestry regulation
The EPA will further strengthen its capabilities and response to native forestry regulation after accepting all four recommendations in an Audit Office report tabled in NSW Parliament in June.
The Native Public Forestry Regulation Audit assessed how effectively Forestry Corporation NSW (FCNSW) manages its public native forestry activities to ensure compliance, and how effectively the EPA regulates these activities. Read more
For more information about the EPA’s regulatory tools, see the EPA Compliance Policy at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/legislation/prosguid.htm
The EPA encourages the community to report incidents to the Environment Line on 131 555.