Orica
Orica Australia Pty Limited pleaded
guilty to four counts of breaching the Qld Environmental Protection Act 1994 as
a result of unauthorised stormwater and effluent releases from its Yarwun facility
near Gladstone, Qld, between February 2010 and February 2012.
Orica has
been ordered to help fund turtle research, conservation and water monitoring
initiatives in Gladstone Harbour following a decision handed down in the
Gladstone Magistrate’s Court.
This is the first time that a public
benefit order has been awarded in Queensland under section 502 of the
Environmental Protection Act: an amendment to allow a proportion of a penalty
to be directed towards environmental works.
The Court has ordered the Company to
pay a fine of $432,000. Orica was also ordered
to pay $53,101.09 in legal and investigation costs.
There was no evidence of any
environmental damage as a result of the discharges. No conviction has been
recorded.
In response to the incidents, Orica
consented to a Court order for the undertaking of a comprehensive independent
audit of the Yarwun site and has committed $30 million of investment to upgrade
the facility. This includes eight
specific initiatives to improve stormwater management and environmental
compliance at the site with the majority of works to be completed in November
2012.
This program includes:
· upgrades to stormwater retention systems;
· installation of perimeter berms, bunds and drains
to improve stormwater management; and
· improved surface management and sealing.
$250,000 of the fine to be paid by
Orica will be directed to three community-based environment groups.
By agreement between the parties the
Court has determined that $100,000 of the total fine will be allocated to green
turtle research at Port Curtis, $90,000 for Australian Conservation Volunteers
and $60,000 for the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership to assist with the
groups ongoing environmental works.
