Laverton North construction company Aerolink Property Construction Pty Ltd has been fined $1,923 by EPA Victoria.

 

The fine comes after EPA officers found concrete gravel and dust was allowed to escape into kerb side gutters and stormwater drains running along the construction site boundary on Holcourt and Plummer Roads, Laverton North, on 23 October 2023.

 

Construction materials like this get into stormwater drains and can find their way into our waterways, such as the nearby Cherry Creek. This can impact the amount of oxygen, sunlight and other important things our aquatic life depends on,” EPA Western Metropolitan Regional Manager Steve Lansdell said.

 

Aerolink, which also traded as Midway Concrete & Garden Supplies, is operating a professional company and should know better. They know their site and business and ought to know how to easily prevent hazards like this occurring. They, like everyone in Victoria, must act to protect the environment and they clearly were not doing so.

 

This fine is an important penalty and reminder. We have also issued an Improvement Notice that requires further investigation of the stormwater drainage and risks at the site due in February and May of 2024.

 

EPA will continue to monitor local businesses such as this and protect our waterways. We have useful information and guidelines available for businesses at www.epa.vic.gov.au in particular EPA Publication 1806: Reducing risk in premixed concrete industry, and EPA Publication 1695.1: Assessing and controlling risk: A guide for business.

 

Anyone sees pollution is encouraged to report to EPA on 1300 372 842 or www.epa.vic.gov.au

Reviewed 4 December 2023