A Templestowe land developer has been slapped with a $5,928 fine from EPA Victoria, after failing to respond to an official warning over a contaminated former industrial site at Preston.

EPA officers fined TSK Preston Development Pty Ltd for failing to report progress on actions required by an Environmental Action Notice.

The notice requires the company to assess the risk to human health and the environment from the former tannery and automotive engineering premises in Newman St, Preston, and provide recommendations on how it will manage the risk, with annual progress reports in the meantime.

EPA Northern Metropolitan Regional Manager Chloe Bernett says the company was given plenty of opportunity to do the right thing.

“The regulatory notice from EPA requires the company to engage an EPA-authorised independent auditor to assess the vacant site and make recommendations, and to report each year on the auditor’s progress,” Ms Bernett said.

“There was no report to EPA at the end of 2023, so we issued an official warning to the company.  A year later, still no report, so EPA has fined the company,” she said.

“The message for businesses is simple: EPA regulatory notices are there to protect the environment and people’s health, and they must be taken seriously.”

The company is still required to comply with the notice, with a final progress report due in December this year.

Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the operator has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.

Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution