Aussie Company Fined AU$45,000 Over Environmental Breaches
By Harry Taruva — Omega Industries has been fined AU$45,000 by the New South Wales (NSW) Environment Protection Authority (EPA) over hazardous chemical storage, waste handling and wastewater management breaches at its Riverstone site.
Harry Taruva 
Sydney — A chemical production company in Riverstone, north-west Sydney, has been fined AU$45,000 after an investigation found deficiencies in hazardous chemical storage, waste handling and wastewater management.
Omega Industries Pty Ltd was issued a Penalty Infringement Notice by the New South Wales (NSW) Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for failing to carry out activities in a competent manner.
The regulator also issued three formal warnings over separate environmental compliance breaches.
The investigation found that the company had stored hazardous chemicals and waste in inadequate containment, including in damaged containers, creating potential risks to nearby businesses in the event of a spill or fire.
The EPA also identified shortcomings in the separation of clean and contaminated water, raising concerns about possible pollution of nearby waterways, including Eastern Creek and the Nepean River.
NSW EPA Director of Field Operations, David Gathercole, said the company’s practices posed an unacceptable risk to the environment and surrounding communities.
“Our investigation found inadequate containment of hazardous chemicals and waste, including chemicals stored in damaged containers.
"This could potentially cause harm to nearby businesses in the event of a spill or fire,” he said.
Gathercole said the wastewater management failures also threatened nearby waterways.
The three formal warnings covered excessive quantities of waste, inadequate stormwater management and spill-response equipment, and insufficient separation of waste.
The regulator said the latest penalty followed previous enforcement action against Omega Industries, making it the third Penalty Infringement Notice issued to the company in two years, alongside several formal warnings.
“We will not tolerate repeated non-compliance. We will continue to monitor the site closely and won't hesitate to take further regulatory action if required,” Gathercole said.
The EPA said it would continue monitoring the site and could take further action if the company failed to meet its environmental obligations.
