Resource company fined $60,000

Issued: 2 Aug 2021

A coal seam gas company has been fined $60,000 in the Dalby Magistrates Court for the unauthorised release of coal seam gas water from a pump station.

On 11 June 2020, 1.1 megalitres of coal seam gas water was released from the company’s pump station to the surrounding land.

The release was not authorised under the conditions of its environmental authority (EA).

Following an investigation by officers from the Department of Environment and Science (DES), the company was charged with one offence contrary to section 430(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 for contravening a condition of its EA and releasing contaminants to land.

In addition to the $60,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay $1,750 in legal costs and $2,292.90 in investigation costs. No conviction was recorded.

DES welcomes the fine that was handed down in the Dalby Magistrates Court. As Queensland’s environmental regulator, DES treats breaches of the Act very seriously and will take strong enforcement action.

People are urged to report all pollution events and environmental emergencies by calling the 24/7 Pollution Hotline—1300 130 372 (option 2).