Officers for the Protection of the Local Environment (OPLEs) are EPA authorised officers. They respond to smaller-scale and lower-risk pollution and waste reports.
OPLEs work with local councils to help industry, business and community find, prevent and resolve environmental issues.
Role of OPLEs
OPLEs respond to reports about:
- illegal dumping
- noise
- odour
- dust
- illegal chemical and waste stockpiling.
Their role is to reduce the impact of this pollution and waste on human health and the environment.
These case studies give you real examples of how OPLEs perform their role.
If you notice waste, water, air, odour or noise pollution, you can make a report.
Case studies
Sampling and inspections at Edwardes Lake
In September 2023, our Environment Protection Officers (EPOs) and OPLEs tested water quality at the lake for heavy metals and E. coli. These are contaminants that may pose a risk to human health and the environment.
'Edwardes Lake is a dog-friendly recreational parkland. It attracts lots of different local aquatic and avian species,' said EPO Kim-Leang Loeun.
'This means we expect to find bacteria like E. coli. But run-off from stormwater and nearby industry can increase the risk of pollution.'
Community reports helped the team find 5 strategic water sampling locations. They also had 18 sites of interest for inspection. The inspections provided an opportunity to:
- understand how to identify hazards and assess risks
- provide targeted information and guidance to improve compliance
- follow up with people who had previously received compliance advice.
Testing showed heavy metals were below the levels for reporting. There was no detection of E. coli downstream of the lake, indicating that the low presence of this bacteria is not affecting other areas.
Joined by council officers, the team then inspected nearby industrial areas and businesses. They found many businesses could improve their ways of working to protect the lake.
Issues included:
- liquid storage drums left near stormwater drains without controls to minimise spills
- broken pipes increasing the risk of pollution
- washing stations leading straight to stormwater.
After officers provided advice, operators corrected the issues.
'The inspections improved our understanding of business practices in the industrial precinct,' said OPLE Sandra Vargas.
'They also helped us promote awareness of the impacts poor chemical and waste management can have on the environment.'
Preventative inspections in the Moolap industrial estate
On a mission to prevent pollution in Geelong’s Stingaree Bay, we sent our OPLEs to the nearby Moolap industrial estate. While we were there to help businesses with their waste management, one business had to take immediate action.
Stingaree Bay provides important habitat for shoreline birds and fish nurseries. Stormwater from the Moolap estate discharges into Stingaree Bay, so any chemical spills or waste escaping from nearby businesses can impact water quality.
'When we arrived at one business, we saw a long trail of some sort of hydrocarbon spill. While they’d applied kitty litter to the spill, it was close to an unprotected stormwater drain,' said OPLE Danielle Goonan.
'While small spills by themselves may not pose a large risk, all these small spills add up to bigger problems for our health and the environment.'
Our OPLEs responded by issuing a remedial notice. The business took immediate action to prevent further leaks and spills in the waste oil storage area.
The business:
- added extra oil drum bunding and a spill kit
- used an authorised waste management company to dispose of waste oil, used oil filters and drained oil drums
- removed 5.5 tonnes of scrap batteries
- reduced fire risks by disposing of scrap metal, waste tyres and general rubbish
- moved waste oil from open areas into an undercover area, in line with our guidelines.
By acting so quickly, the business met the requirements of the notice before the due date. This was a great outcome for our waterways and environment.
Our OPLEs help us improve our response to lower-risk waste and pollution issues at a local level.
For more information about managing liquids, visit Storage and handling.
Car wrecker and recycling inspections
Spills that contaminate land and pollute waterways, waste that bursts into flames – that’s what our OPLEs were looking out for when they inspected car wreckers and recyclers in the state’s north west. Not only did they find non-compliance, but 4 out of 5 businesses did not know they needed to register with us.
Our OPLEs, joined by council officers from 6 local government areas, visited 26 businesses. They issued:
- 2 environmental action notices
- one improvement notice
- 46 items of compliance advice about registrations and permissions.
'Car wreckers and recyclers can pose a risk to the environment and public health. Oils and other hydrocarbons can leach into the ground, contaminating soil. Liquids can run off site. This can impact stormwater and local waterways if it's not managed,' said OPLE Steve Masterson.
These businesses also need to be aware of their fire risks. Large stockpiles of waste can catch fire, so duty holders must manage stockpiles properly. They also need to have a risk management plan and keep firefighting equipment on site.
More than 80% of the businesses we spoke to did not know they needed an EPA registration. This limits our ability to prevent environmental harm.
We are limited in regulating backyard operators, but our OPLEs helped council officers understand:
- which businesses needed to get a registration
- updates to the Environment Protection Act 2017
- the general environmental duty
- how to use correct waste classification codes.
The region is monitoring compliance at 4 of the inspected sites. They have also discovered one more site of interest for inspection.
Find out more about how to determine if your business needs a permission.
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