Hi-Quality Quarry Products, which operates a landfill at 570 Sunbury Rd, Bulla, has been ordered by the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court to contribute to a local community project and comply with an adverse publicity order after pleading guilty to breaching its Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence.
The company admitted in court that it began constructing a new waste cell at its landfill before meeting the conditions of its EPA licence.
EPA Victoria had granted Hi-Quality (now known as HiQ) an operating licence that included a condition requiring it not to begin construction of a new cell without written approval from the authority. The court heard that construction commenced without that approval.
As part of the sentencing outcome, Hi-Quality was ordered to pay EPA’s legal costs of $7,000, contribute $10,000 to Hume City Council’s Sunbury Community Arts and Culture Precinct Project, and comply with an adverse publicity order requiring publication of details of the offence.
EPA Victoria said the matter highlights the importance of compliance with environmental licence conditions designed to protect the environment and surrounding communities.
HiQ is separately progressing an application to develop a waste-to-energy incinerator and power generation facility at its Sunbury Rd site. That proposal is subject to regulatory assessment and approvals.
See our previous reports on HiQ (Hi-Quality) here.