Hymix Australia has copped a $15,000 fine from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for alleged pollution of Kincumber Creek, but community activist Cori Hopper says it is “woefully inadequate”.
A spokesperson said the EPA inspected the Kincumber concrete batching plant on October 19, 2020, in response to community concerns over dirty water pollution coming from it.
EPA officers found evidence of concrete waste water discharging into a stormwater drain on Cochrone St which leads to Kincumber Creek.
Officers also noted that a pump in the settling pit was not operating, which would normally send dirty water back to a holding tank for re-use.
The discharges had elevated pH levels and total suspended solids, with the potential to cause harm to the local environment.
The EPA has issued Hymix with a $15,000 penalty for the alleged water pollution and an $8,000 penalty for allegedly failing to properly operate control equipment.
Hymix was also issued with a Clean-up Direction and Prevention Notice to address ongoing surface water management issues at the plant.
EPA Director Regulatory Operations, Adam Gilligan, said he expected compliance at the Hymix site to improve as a result of the penalties.
“It is important that companies like Hymix take their environmental management responsibilities seriously so that their activities don’t impact the surrounding environment,” Gilligan said.
“Concrete waste can increase the pH of surrounding waters and has the potential to harm aquatic life and pollute water for those that rely on it.
Hymix’s prior compliance record and lack of voluntary action to mitigate harm was also taken into consideration by the EPA.
Penalty notices are one of a number of tools the EPA can use to achieve environmental compliance, including formal warnings, licence conditions, notices and directions, mandatory audits, legally binding pollution reduction programs, enforceable undertakings and prosecutions.
Cori Hopper, who has been agitating for something to be done about the situation for six years, said he was “genuinely disappointed” at the amount of the fine.
He says operators and management at the Hymix plant have been “acutely aware” that they have been polluting the waterway since December 2014.
“They knew because that was when the EPA first issued Hymix concrete a penalty of a staggering $1,500 for the exact same thing it was fined for recently,” Hopper said.
“This time they were fined $15,000.
“The part that beggars belief here is how Hymix was allowed to continue to openly devastate Kincumber Creek and its sensitive habitat (for six more years) before they were … charged for the same disgraceful environmental crime.
“The EPA knew it was happening as did Central Coast Council.
“State and Federal government representative were also made fully aware.”
Hopper said he had documented damage to the creek at regular intervals since 2013 and was still collating evidence.
He said the creek still runs grey most weeks and it appears little has been done to mitigate the situation.
Davistown Progress Association President, Jenny McCulla, was a little more hopeful.
“Local recreational fishers will be pleased to know the fish they eat caught in Brisbane Waters in the vicinity of Kincumber will be a lot cleaner,” she said.
A spokesperson for Hymix Australia said the fines recently issued by the EPA relate to the alleged discharged of high pH and sediment laden water as a result of a failure within the concrete plant’s stormwater treatment system following a significant rainfall event October 19, 2020.
“The failure was isolated within the stormwater system and was not directly associated with concrete waste,” the spokesperson said.
“Following the EPA’s investigation Hymix took immediate interim measures to improve the plant’s water management system.
“Further to this Hymix is currently undertaking capital infrastructure works in conjunction with a Water Management Report.
“This is being undertaken in consultation with the EPA and is expected to be completed soon.”
Terry Collins