A Lilydale company has been fined $9,880 for dumping Cypress pine mulch and tree roots in a state park southeast of Sale in Gippsland.
EPA Victoria fined TLC Trees Pty Ltd for the unlawful deposit of waste of more than 1,000 litres at a place that was not licensed to accept it.
On 26 June, EPA officers acting on a tipoff found approximately 16 cubic meters of illegally dumped mulch and numerous Cypress root balls in Holey Plains State Park, a 10,000 Ha reserve for native flora and fauna.
They found eight more piles of approximately 48 cubic meters of mulch and other root balls on neighbouring land outside the park.
They found a nearby property had recently undertaken clean up works, removing Cypress pine trees from along a fence. At least 15 root balls were missing from the fence line and there was no evidence of debris from the clearing of the trees. EPA officers were able to trace the work back to the Lilydale company.
EPA has issued a Waste Abatement Notice to TLC Trees Pty Ltd, requiring the company to remove the waste mulch from the multiple locations, take it to a lawful place for disposal, and provide documents to prove the job has been done.
Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the company has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.
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
