The Environment Protection Authority Victoria has fined SBI Landfill Pty Ltd $9246 after the company failed to immediately notify EPA Victoria of equipment failure at its Cranbourne site in July which caused an odour incident.
When a temporary seal on a landfill gas extraction well failed, odour escaped the site, leading to an influx of calls to EPA.
Only after an inspection of the site did the company provide relevant information.
EPA South Metropolitan Melbourne region manager Viranga Abeywickrema said the odour had an impact on the local community.
“Under its licence, SBI must immediately notify EPA of issues like this,” she said.
“We need to be informed so we can be assured appropriate action is taking place.”
The fine came just a few weeks after EPA escalated regulatory action against the company commencing proceedings in the Supreme Court against SBI Landfill Pty Ltd and its directors, alleging a range of serious non-compliances with Victoria’s environment protection laws.
EPA has been actively regulating the SBI Cranbourne site since March 2022 when numerous reports of odour were reported.
For more information, visit www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/incidents/sbi-inert-landfill.
