By Briar Sinclair
QENOS has been fined $5241 for odour emissions from its Altona plant.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) fined the company last week after receiving more than a dozen complaints from residents in early October.
A strong hydrocarbon odour escaped the olefins plant when a transfer of waste materials took place during a maintenance shutdown.
QENOS was fined for breaching its licence, which states odours must not be discharged beyond the boundary of the premises.
The company has 28 days to pay the fine or have the matter dealt with in court.
EPA Victoria west metropolitan regional manager Jim Clements said the company was in contact with the EPA and community members when the odour was present. He said the EPA required companies handling potentially harmful and odorous materials to ensure the effectiveness of their management systems to avoid such incidents.
Olefins plant manager Peter Ritchie said QENOS regretted the incident. “We apologise for causing such a level of concern to our local community,” he said.
“We are extremely disappointed that we did not meet our target of having zero impact on the surrounding residents during the turnaround.
“We have thoroughly investigated the incident and we will ensure that this problem will not recur.”
Mr Clements encouraged the community to report incidents to the EPA.
“It is important that the community continue to contact EPA when they experience odours or witness spills or other pollution. Such support allows us to continue to address pollution in the community.”
EPA’s Pollution Watch line number is 9695 2777.
