EPA issues $30,000 fine for pollution events
ADCO Construction has been hit with a $30,000 fine for breaching water pollution controls at the new Forest High building.
In June, water run-off containing sediment from the Allambie Road site ran into nearby Curl Curl Creek, a stormwater system that feeds into Manly Dam. NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) inspected the site at the time following complaints from the community.
EPA executive director of operations Jason Gordon said sediment discharge could cause considerable harm to aquatic life and that ADCO Constructions had previously been warned of the need to improve sediment management at the site.
“Curl Curl Creek is a highly diverse aquatic ecosystem that hosts a population of the 90-million-year-old climbing galaxias freshwater fish. Water pollution incidents of this nature have the potential to jeopardise their delicate natural habitat,” Mr Gordon said.
“Strict regulations around water pollution exist to safeguard sensitive local waterways, plants, and animals, and compliance is non-negotiable.
“At the time of the incident, adequate onsite pollution controls were not in place at the construction site, which is unacceptable.”
Local environment group Save Manly Dam Bushland (SM) has labelled the fine ‘pitiful.’ “That’s not going to stop this big developer from doing anything, really,” vice-chair Malcolm Fisher said.
Of particular concern for the group has been the ‘tiny’ climbing galaxias fish, which Mr Fisher said climbed up the steep creeks from Manly Dam right up to Allambie Heights. SM was responsible for the discovery of the Gondwana-era fish and has led fights for its preservation.
“It needs clean, fresh waters to survive. And then its whole habitat was overwhelmed by a never-ending torrent of mud and sediment,” Mr Fisher said.
The Manly resident said it was not possible to determine whether the fish had survived as they could only be viewed at night, but monitoring was set to occur soon.
Wakehurst MP Michael Regan also welcomed the fine, but said it was ‘bittersweet’ as the damage was already done. Mr Regan has asked the NSW environment minister to reinvest the fine into environmental and restoration projects at Manly Dam.
Construction will continue for six months on the new school, and EPA’s Jason Gordon said it would ‘maintain strong regulatory oversight to ensure all environment protection measures are complied with.”