The company allegedly behind a chemical spill that led to the deaths of thousands of fish in Melbourne’s west has been charged with failing to minimise the risk of harm to the environment and human health.
According to the EPA, the spill involved about 13,000 litres of the chemical detergent known as Teric N9, which is used in shampoos and cleaning products but is harmful if swallowed and is toxic to fish when, in high concentrations, it causes oxygen levels in the water to drop. EPA chief executive Lee Miezis said the community was denied access to the creek and lake for several months.“The decision to charge [Melbourne Transport and Warehousing] and take enforcement action is in addition to the regulatory notices issued to them to clean up impacts on the waterways,” Miezis said.