Brisbane 18 December 2013. A Central Queensland earthmoving company has today been fined $45,000 over the unauthorised frequent spills of waste oil and diesel at Yarwun Quarries near Gladstone.

Streeters Earthmoving Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to charges that it failed to conduct activities on the site in a way to prevent release of contaminants to land.

The company was also charged in relation to failing to sufficiently bund all liquid chemicals and waste containers.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said the unauthorised spills were a serious breach of conditions of approvals and presented an elevated risk of environmental harm.

“Officers from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) observed extensive fuel and oil spills at Yarwun Quarries in November 2012,” Mr Powell said.

“The company failed to contain and clean up the spills as required by the conditions of the environmental approval.

“Failure to comply with environmental conditions set by the State Government is taken seriously and we will pursue any company who is found to be doing the wrong thing.”

Streeters Earthmoving Pty Ltd was operating on behalf of Scottco Pty Ltd, the registered operator of Yarwun Quarries

“Those who cause environmental harm will face high maximum penalties, regardless of whether they are the holder of the environmental authority or the subcontractor,” Mr Powell said.

“EHP requires all persons operating on land, subject to a development approval, to strictly comply with all development conditions of the development approval.”

Scottco Pty Ltd was fined $45,000 in relation to the matter on 20 November 2013.