Preston building site’s $6,000 dust storm

EPA Victoria has issued Accurate Earthworks & Services Pty Ltd with $6,000 in fines and shut down earthworks they were conducting at a Preston building site after dust from the site left a gritty mess in a nearby retro fashion store and shut down a food truck.

EPA officers found machines working at the Newman St site were sending dust drifting as far as homes on Stokes St, 150 metres away. There were layers of dust on parked cars and throughout the fashion store. It also penetrated the cool room and bathroom used by the food truck.

Inspecting the premises, the officers described the dust as a very fine powder. They found no effective dust suppression, and a staff member did not know about a dust management plan for the site.

The investigation began when reports of dust pollution began coming in from businesses and residents around the construction site. Eventually there were 17 separate reports over three days.

The Thomastown company received a $2,035 fine for dust leaving the premises on 18 February, another $2,035 fine for dust leaving the premises the following day, and a third fine on 20 February when EPA officers found sediment tracks leaving the site and creating a mess in the street.

EPA also issued the occupier of the site, Balwyn company 7even Enterprise (Preston) Pty Ltd, with a Prohibition Notice banning the company from excavating, screening or carting soil at the premises until it produces a professionally prepared dust management plan and has the stockpiles of soil on the site assessed and classified by an independent expert.

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