2024-02-28
Tabatha Badger | Lead Candidate for Lyons
The Greens have slammed the EPA for allowing an embattled Derwent Valley company found guilty of a catastrophic contamination incident to continue operating its business as usual.
Jenkins Hire Pty Ltd was last week fined for causing a devastating wastewater spill in 2020 that contaminated the Plenty River and Salmon Ponds hatchery, and led to the deaths of over 130,000 fish.
EPA director Wes Ford this morning confirmed on ABC Tasmania radio that the company will continue to distribute toxic waste across its Derwent Valley property, despite no evidence of improved management standards.
“It beggars belief that our environmental regulator is content with this outcome.
“It defies logic that any company found guilty of a major pollution incident could continue to handle waste in the same manner that caused the catastrophe in the first place.
“The EPA is patting itself on the back for doing the bare minimum when it should be treating the root cause of the matter by ensuring Jenkins Hire cannot continue to distribute toxic waste across its Derwent Valley property.
“For too long the EPA has prioritised industry productivity over environmental protection and Tasmanians are losing trust that it’s up to the job of keeping our environment and wildlife safe.
“This is why we need Greens in the balance of power to strengthen environmental laws and ensure our environmental regulator is properly resourced and fully independent, so it can do the job it’s supposed to do - making sure Tasmania’s environment is protected.”