Four companies fined over Banyule Creek blue pollution incident

Following an extensive investigation, EPA Victoria has fined four companies $10,000 each in relation to the pollution incident which turned a part of Banyule Creek blue earlier this year.

The four companies, all contractors on the North East Link Project (NELP) are:

WEBUILD S.P.A.

CPB CONTRACTORS PTY LIMITED

GS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

CHINA CONSTRUCTION OCEANIA PTY LTD

“On 16 July this year, EPA received multiple calls from the community distressed that their creek had turned an unnatural blue with EPA issuing a notice to the community to avoid contact with the water as a precaution,” said EPA North Metropolitan Regional Manager Chloe Bernett.

“The source was eventually confirmed to be a large quantity of suppressant commonly used to keep dust down on construction sites. Stocks of this suppressant had been released resulting in Banyule Creek turning blue.

“Remediation works have returned the creek to its normal health.”