1. Did cause an environmental hazard at Moorooduc from 01.07.2017 to 30.09.2017, contrary to s.56.2

2. Did pollute waters making harmful to animals at Moorooduc from 01.07.2017 to 30.09.2017, contrary to s.56.3

3. Did pollute waters making harmful to vegetation at Moorooduc from 01.07.2017 to 30.09.2017, contrary to s.56.3

4. Did pollute waters making detrimental for uses at Moorooduc from 01.07.2017 to 30.09.2017, contrary to s.56.3

5. Did fail to comply with requirement of Authorised Officer at Moorooduc on 30.11.2017, contrary to s.55.6

A commercial flower growing business that allowed thousands of litres of fuel oil to spill onto a Moorooduc waterway has been ordered to pay Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) $500,000 in compensation and fined $150,000.

On Wednesday 11 March 2020, Aaree Pty Ltd and its director Admir Isovski, faced five charges at Frankston Magistrates' Court under Section 27A(1), Section 39(1) and Section 55(6) of the Environment Protection Atc 1970 for causing environmental hazard, pollution of water and failing to comply with the requirements of an EPA notice.

The incident occurred in July 2017 at Barakee Reserve Outfall Drain in Moorooduc when a greenhouse, which used a water heater fueled by waste oik, caught fire causing damage to the generator which then started to leak oil into the nearby drain.

EPA received calls from concerned residents who reported seeing black oil in the Barakee Reserve Outfall Drain and a private drain leading to the Reserve.

Given the extent of the oil spill which spread over a kilometre of the system, Melbourne Water was engaged to do an extensive clean-up that took two months to remove 1.2 million litres of liquid waste, 687 tonnes of soil waste and 45 tonnes of other contaminated waste.

The Court also ordered Aaree Pty Ltd to pay EPA costs to the amount of $11,663 and sentenced Admir Isovski to 200 hours of community work.