COLIBAN Water will pay $150,000 towards the rehabilitation of a Campaspe River tributary, after it pleaded guilty in December to breaches of environmental protection laws.
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The EPA successfully argued on Tuesday in the Kyneton Magistrates' Court that Coliban Water should make a significant contribution towards rehabilitating damage it caused when it discharged treated wastewater to the Campaspe River in 2019, in breach of its licence.
Coliban Water will pay $150,000 towards towards rehabilitation of Snipes Creek, will be placed on a two-year bond, and pay cost of $10,000 to the EPA.
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In December 2020 Coliban Water pleaded guilty to EPA charges of causing or permitting an environmental hazard and pollution of waters at the Kyneton Magistrates' Court. The court also recorded convictions on those charges.
The court agreed to adjourn the matter until March 2, 2021, to allow the EPA to complete an evaluation process in line with the Inspiring Environmental Solutions Guidelines, allowing for court-ordered community projects to be funded.
Magistrate Southey found that taking prior offences into account, Coliban Water should contribute to the EPA's proposed program under the Environment Protection Act 1970.
EPA chief executive Lee Miezis said having pleaded guilty, Coliban Water would now pay to help work with the local community to restore Snipes Creek.
Coliban Water managing director Damian Wells said the organisation respected the decision of the court.
"We recognise what happened in 2019 was unacceptable, and we are sorry for the impacts we had on downstream landowners, and the environment," Mr Wells said.
Mr Wells said Coliban Water had fast-tracked a $17 million investment to upgrade the plant, in response to the operational shortcomings.
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