Three housebuilders working at Lara and Armstrong Creek have been fined for industrial littering as officers from EPA Victoria inspected building sites for pollution offences.
Inspections of 20 sites produced three fines of $2,032 each for littering up to 50 litres in volume of building and construction waste, after officers found unsecured waste on nature strips or waste escaping from sites and skip bins on jobs managed by Luxton Homes and Aplace in Armstrong Creek and Boutique Homes in Lara.
EPA visited residential building sites around Greater Geelong, with a team of Authorised Officers conducting targeted, proactive inspections looking for typical hazards including contaminated wastewater, concrete waste, sawdust, paints and solvents, sediment, dust and litter.
Along with littering, they found issues with sediment tracked onto streets and concrete residue entering gutters and drains.
EPA Southwest Regional Manager Martha-Rose Loughnane says pollution leaving building sites can spread out far beyond the construction zone.
"Waste paper, packaging and polystyrene scraps that escape a construction site can easily be taken by the wind or rain into nearby parks, reserves and residential areas," Ms Loughnane said.
"Sediment, paint, wastewater and other liquids entering gutters and drains don't just vanish, they will wind up in rivers, wetlands and the ocean," she said.
"It is the responsibility of every builder, contractor or tradie to make sure waste leaves the site in a bin or on a truck and doesn't wind up scattered across the landscape."
The community can also help keep our neighbourhoods clean. If your home is under construction, visit the site and ensure waste is managed, fencing is secure, and materials are contained. If you see issues, contact your builder immediately.
EPA also gave informal compliance advice and instructions where minor problems could be fixed on the spot.
"The role of everyone working on the home building site is to know their responsibilities and comply with them. The EPA Civil Construction, Building and Demolition Guide explains how, and is easy to download from the EPA website," Ms Loughnane said.
Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the three operators have the right to have the infringement notices reviewed or be considered by a court.
The Construction, Building and Demolition Guide is available at epa.vic.gov.au/18341-civil-construction-building-and-demolition-guide
Illegal dumping of waste is a serious crime.
The Victorian Government has established a dedicated EPA‑led taskforce, working in partnership with DEECA and the Conservation Regulator, to target illegal dumping on public land.
The taskforce works closely with local councils, brings together investigative expertise, focuses on high‑risk locations across the state, engages with industries most at risk of offending, and strengthens enforcement to prevent illegal dumping and catch offenders whenever it occurs.
