A trail of waste paint led to a hefty fine for a contractor after an EPA Victoria team conducting routine inspections followed it back to a building site at North Torquay, on 28 June.
EPA officers fined Record Painting $5,548 after finding water used to wash painting equipment was flowing from the site in Cormorant Way, across a footpath into a roadside gutter and then to a stormwater drain that leads to nearby wetlands.
At the building site, they found there were no controls to keep the contaminated water onsite for proper disposal.
EPA Regional Manager for the Southwest, Tanya McAteer, says paint contains chemicals that can kill aquatic life, and it does not belong in local wetlands and waterways.
"EPA officers have been inspecting building sites in the North Torquay area after residents expressed concerns about impacts from development upstream of the Karaaf Wetlands," Ms McAteer said.
"In this case, the concerns of the public were clearly justified. The trail of white-coloured water went some distance in the gutter before it entered the stormwater drain," she said.
"Chemicals like this don't just vanish when they disappear into the drain, they can affect wetlands and other surface waters, and they can find their way into groundwater that's used for agriculture and household use."
As well as fining the contracting company, EPA has issued an Official Warning to the developer, as the manager of the building site.
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
There's information on hazardous chemicals and water pollution on the EPA website epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/about-hazardous-leaks
