A STONE cutting business has been slapped with a $2000 fine for contaminating Mordialloc Creek.
EPA Victoria said in a statement that Century of Stone Ltd, which trades as Century Marble out of Boundary Road in Braeside, had allowed runoff from its stone to flow down a stormwater drain and into Mordialloc Creek. The business cuts stone while it is wet to cut down on dust emissions, EPA Victoria said.
EPA southern metro regional manager Viranga Abeywickrema has issued a reminder for businesses to be careful when disposing of their waste. “The impact of waste-contaminated liquid into offsite stormwater systems is a serious issue. The suspension of the fine stone or marble particles in the water used in the cutting process once discharged can reduce or even block light from penetrating into waterways and can impact aquatic life including fish and vegetation,” he said.
“We’ve issued a notice to the business that it must stop using this method of cutting stone without proper controls in place to ensure this discharge doesn’t reoccur. We all have a duty to protect the environment and we expect every business to use all available methods to reduce or eliminate pollution.”
For more information on preventing water pollution visit epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/prevent-water-pollution
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 15 February 2023