A Maryborough company has been fined over $10,000 due to an accidental release of approximately 6,000 litres of diesel into a lagoon, which is a tributary of Mary River. The incident occurred at Persal & Co Power Pty Ltd in Morning St, and it led to a fish kill. However, the spill was contained before it reached the Mary River, according to an official clean-up notice issued by the Department of Environment and Science.
The diesel was released into a stormwater drain, but it was contained before it reached the Mary River. The contaminated lagoon was adjacent to residential properties, and dead fish were found by Fraser Coast Regional Council officers in the affected water section. In August 2022, the department’s officers attended the site and found that the clean-up was progressing using pumps and skimmers, but further action was needed to remediate the impacted waterbody.
The company was issued with a Clean Up Notice by the Department of Environment and Science, which was fully complied with, according to a department spokesman. The company was also issued with a $10,781 infringement notice for the spill. A spokesperson for Persal explained that the spill was caused by a sudden and unforeseen pump failure attached to a diesel tank used to refill vehicles.
They added that Persal took immediate and urgent remediation action and that the spill was contained. An environmental scientist was engaged by Persal to assist with meeting the clean-up requirements, and on 15 December 2022, the Department of Environment and Science verified that all remedial requirements had been met. No improvements were required, except for a replacement pump.
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