Fortek fined over industrial waste transport

A high profile Geelong developer charged by EPA Victoria with transporting 148 tonnes of industrial waste to Geelong landfill in contravention of environment protection duties has been ordered to pay $75,000 to fund local restorative projects and was placed on a good behaviour bond following a ruling by the Geelong Magistrates’ Court.

Rosario Pelligra’s company, Fortek (Princes) Pty Ltd, transported industrial waste from the disused former Ford site depositing it at the Fyansford Waste Disposal and Recycling facility operated by Geelong Landfill Pty Ltd in November 2022.

According to EPA, on 29 November 2022 Fortek failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the hydrocarbon-contaminated timber priority waste was transported to and received at a place authorised to receive it.

Fortek also failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the person collecting and transporting the priority waste was provided information regarding the nature and type, risks of harm and any information reasonably expected to be necessary for the person to comply with a duty in relation to the priority waste.

For accepting the industrial waste without appropriate authorisation, Geelong Landfill Pty Ltd, trading as, Sycle, was last year ordered to pay more than $65,000 without conviction, which included the funding of a $50,000 conservation project along the Moorabool River, $10,000 payment to the court fund and $5658 in Court costs to the EPA.

Without conviction, Fortek was ordered to pay $75,000 to City of Greater Geelong for the Corio Coastal Catchment Environment Restoration Project which will focus on restoring and enhancing critical habitat areas at Cuthbertson Creek and Shell Foreshore, Fortek must also pay EPA court costs of $25,000 and publish a notice of it’s offending in the Geelong Advertiser and on the Victorian Waste Management Association website.

Mr Pelligra will participate in a diversion plan which includes a good behaviour bond until September 2026 and a $15,000 donation to the Give Where You Live Foundation.

EPA South West Regional Manager Martha -Rose Loughnane said “Waste must go to facilities that are licensed to accept so that the risk it poses is properly managed. Neither Geelong Landfill Pty Ltd (Sycal) or Fortek respected the legislation and have paid a significant penalty.

“However, it is good that there will be a community benefit from the funds ordered to the Corio Coastal Catchment Environment Restoration Project and the Give Where you Live Foundation.”