Businesses in the Macedon Ranges, including Woodend, Kyneton and Gisborne, need to better understand their responsibilities to the environment, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has warned.
The EPA completed snap inspections of 34 businesses in the area in the week starting August 21, and found issues that resulted in eight notices being sent and compliance advice given on 45 occasions.
In an announcement on August 29, EPA Northwest regional manager Dr Scott Pigdon said officers gave advice about the Environment Protection Act 2017, in particular the General Environmental Duty (GED).
The GED requires all Victorians to take reasonable actions to reduce the risk of harm from their activities to human health and the environment, from pollution or waste.
“Our inspections looked at how the businesses were managing waste so that it could not escape to a stormwater drain and pollute waterways,” Dr Pigdon said.
“Many businesses just need a bit of education and advice, but where they persist in non-compliance, we take further enforcement action and that could include financial penalties if they won’t listen.”
Some of the non-compliance issues identified included risk to stormwater drains, liquid and dangerous goods storage.
Other issues related to inadequate bunding, waste storage, hydrocarbon storage, a lack of awareness of potential impacts from onsite activities, sediment and runoff, and failure to comply with waste duties.
