Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined East Gippsland Region Water Corporation (EGRWC) $9246 for failing to comply with a regulatory notice.

EGRWC began discharging recycled wastewater to a waterway from its Newmerella Wastewater Treatment Plant into an unnamed creek that flows into Lake Corringle and eventually the Snowy River in November 2022.

EPA Gippsland Regional Manager Jessica Bandiera said, “the corporation’s EPA licence allows for discharges when necessary, such as in times of heavy rain or flooding, but the licence places strict conditions on the quality and amount of recycled water being discharged”.

“EPA puts those conditions there to protect the community and the environment.”

EGRWC is obligated under the licence to provide information that explains the breach, and demonstrates that the corporation is meeting strict conditions.

EPA officers inspected the treatment plant following notification of the breach, with EGRWC failing to provide sufficient information.

EPA issued an information gathering notice that gave EGRWC a firm deadline to provide the information, but the corporation failed to respond in time.

“The conditions in any EPA licence are clearly stated in the documentation and must be taken seriously.”

“EPA won’t hesitate to apply sanctions to protect the environment and people’s health,” ” Ms Bandiera said

A spokesperson for East Gippsland Water said that extreme wet conditions experienced during 2021/2022 made it challenging to manage volumes at several of the corporation’s water recycling plants.

“Managing these incidents put a great strain on our people, and we have always endeavoured to provide the EPA with the information they are seeking within the deadlines imposed,” the EGRWC spokesperson said.

“Unfortunately, in this instance, we were slightly late in responding to the request for information. There was no environmental impact from the delay.”

The fine for failing to comply with a regulatory notice comes less than a year after EGRWC was fined more than $9000 for the discharge of more than 30 million litres of wastewater from the Bairnsdale Wastewater Treatment Plant into Macleod Morass in April 2022.

Under Section 115(4) of the Environment Protection Act 2017, the EPA fined EGRWC $9087 for the unlawful deposit of wastewater into Macleod Morass in August 2022.

East Gippsland Water has invited the EPA to visit several water recycling plants next week to inspect current and future improvements undertaken at the sites to better cope with extreme climatic events.

The public can report pollution by calling EPAs 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842, or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution.