Oasis @ Newman fined for illegally dumping oil and diesel metres from Fortescue River

An accommodation facility near Newman has been slapped with more than $17,000 in fines for illegally dumping oil, diesel and hydrocarbons just metres from the Fortescue River. Oasis @ Newman appeared before the South Hedland Magistrates Court on September 8 and was fined $10,000 for dumping diesel and hydrocarbons and a further $2000 for the dumping of vegetable oil. The motel is located 7km from Newman and between August 25-29, 2019, a contractor was engaged to construct an amphitheatre at the rear of the premises. There were various waste materials stored in the area, including 1000 litre intermediate bulk containers containing oil. The court was told the contractor used a forklift and loader to transport eight IBCs, as well as other waste items, and buried them about 50m from the Fortescue River. Prior to burying the bulk containers, the contractor removed the lids and punctured the IBCs to allow the contents to spill into the soil. Inspectors from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation attended the site on September 12 that year to oversee its excavation, which was conducted by the contractor. During the excavation, several IBCs and two 20 litre plastic containers were uncovered and were leaking oil-like substances. ChemCentre analysis concluded that the substances were vegetable oil, diesel and other hydrocarbons. Oasis was also ordered to pay costs of $1613.30 and ordered to reimburse DWER for clean-up costs of the amount of $4155, bringing the total costs to $17,768.30. DWER executive director of compliance and enforcement Kelly Falkner said the actions of Oasis and the contractor could have caused major environmental damage. “If the buried hydrocarbons and oils had reached groundwater and surface water, there would have been risk of the contaminated water reaching drinking reserves,” she said. “Although the company co-operated with the investigation and have since taken steps to ensure it does not happen again, the initial actions of the company showed a blatant disregard for the environment.”