The Land and Environment Court have ordered Crush and Haul Pty Ltd and its Director Luke Cauchi, who oversee operations at Corindi Quarry on the Mid North Coast, to pay $247,500 in fines for the illegal storage of materials removed from the quarry without a licence.
The company and its director pleaded guilty after storing more than 90,000 tonnes of extracted materials, which includes materials such as rock and clay, at Corindi Quarry, which supplies materials used in road construction.
At the time of the offence, quarrying activities involving the extraction, storage or processing of more than 30,000 tonnes of extractive materials per year required a licence from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in accordance with the legislation.
NSW EPA Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, Carmen Dwyer said the Defendants' actions were a blatant disregard for licencing requirements and the environment.
"The severity of this fine should serve as a stern warning to others - to know their responsibilities and do the right thing," Ms Dwyer.
"Limits are enforced on what can be quarried to ensure operations implement effective controls that reduce the impact of erosion, noise or blasting.
"It is disappointing when individuals or companies intentionally disregard their responsibilities and in doing so put the environment at risk.
"These conditions of the EPA licence are fair and designed to ensure that activity can occur while minimising the impact to the wider environment."
The Court convicted the Defendants of the offences, issued a fine of $225,000 to Crush and Haul and $22,500 to Mr Cauchi. The Court ordered that both Defendants pay the EPA's legal costs and also publish a notice (in the form proposed by the EPA) within the first twelve pages of the Quarry Magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Coffs Coast News of the Area and the Northern Rivers Times.
People can report concerns regarding pollution and other environment incidents to the EPA on 131 555.
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