EPA Victoria has started Supreme Court action against Cranbourne tip operator SBI Landfill Pty Ltd and its directors over prolonged odour impacts on neighbourning residents.
Among its five allegations is that SBI did not comply with the requirements of its operating licence and failed to meet its general environmental duty at its Ballarto Road landfill.
EPA is seeking civil penalties and injunctions, which could potentially exceed $1.8 million for the company and $360,000 for directors for each allegation.
The authority is also seeking interim court orders for SBI to cease accepting any waste on the site until it “improves management of the landfill site and prevents unacceptable impacts on human health and the environment”.
The court action is an escalation of EPA regulatory action against SBI since odours were first reported by residents in March 2022, EPA stated.
“As these matters are now before the Court, EPA will not be making any further comments,” it stated.
