Sand quarry fined for releasing contaminated water

The Newman Government has welcomed a decision to fine a southern Queensland sand quarry company $75,000 for poor water management on its Coominya site.

Operator of the quarry, Vicisa Sarkat Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court, to two counts of wilfully breaching a development approval condition, seven counts of contravening an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) and two counts of failing to comply with an authorised person’s direction in an emergency.

The company was also ordered to pay $3,531.73 in legal and investigative costs.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Andrew Powell said the sand quarry, located north-west of Ipswich, was a risk to the surrounding environment after orders from the department were repeatedly ignored.

“The department issued numerous statutory notices including a notice to prepare a transitional environmental program, an EPO and an emergency direction notice which required the company to undertake works to prevent discharges from the site,” Mr Powell said.

“Inspections by EHP officers in 2010 and 2011 confirmed none of the required work had been completed.”

“Departmental officers conducted a site inspection in October 2010 and observed sediment contaminated water discharging from the site into nearby Running Creek.”

Mr Powell said the department had no choice but to undertake emergency works in December 2010, to minimise the release of contaminated water from the site.

“The Queensland Government will not tolerate companies that put the environment at risk by continuously failing to comply with the department’s orders.

“Companies must take their environmental obligations seriously or face the consequences.”

Craig Francis Carroll, who is the director of the company, failed to appear in Court.

Charges against the director of Vicisa Sarkat Pty Ltd, regarding the site, have been adjourned until 27 August.

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