Queensland Alumina Ltd fined $500k in damages over 2018 environmental breach in Gladstone
FriFriday 18
updated
FriFriday 18
DecDecember 2020 at 6:40am
Queensland Alumina Limited is one of the largest alumina refineries in the world and is owned by Rio Tinto and aluminium company Rusal.
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Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) has pleaded guilty to environmental charges over a 2018 incident where chemicals were mistakenly released into the atmosphere, and fined $500,000 in Gladstone Magistrates Court one of the largest environmental fines in Queensland.
Key points:
The defence attorney admitted the incident was serious
QAL has been in court five times for similar breaches
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Two Queensland Alumina Limited staff were not properly trained to prevent a serious environmental breach when the alarm was raised on September 8, 2018, a court has heard.
The error resulted in a two to three tonne slurry of alkaline bauxite being released into the air which travelled 11km south and impacted 119 properties and vehicles in the South Tree Industrial State and caused $868,906.78 in insurance payouts.
Crown prosecutor Deborah Holiday, acting for the Department of Environment and Science, told Gladstone Magistrates Court an alarm was raised at 5.55pm where a control room supervisor requested an electrician investigate the incident who in turn contracted a technical specialist.
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A BOROREN business owner has been fined after an incident at a local service station.
Richard Owen Blackmore, 77, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday to one count of common assault.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Carl Spargo told the court Blackmore attended the Caltex Service Station at Bororen, about 3pm on November 8.
Blackmore requested a bag of ice from the female complainant, who worked at the service station.
He pulled out a sum of money for the ice, however, when the complainant reached for it Blackmore pulled it back.
The complainant then snatched the money from Blackmore, who stated to her âyouâre naughty, I could bend you over my knee and smack you. And Iâd give you a good tickle at the same time. Youâd really like my ticklesâ.
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NATIKA Layce Morris’ festive season got off to a bad start after she appeared in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.
Morris, 21, pleaded guilty to driving while SPER suspended.
Police prosecutor Carl Spargo read the facts of Morris’ case to the court and newly appointed acting Magistrate Ross Woodford.
At 4.10pm on Thursday, November 19, police from Calliope Road Policing were conducting mobile enforcement on Gladstone Benaraby Road, Toolooa.
They intercepted Morris, the sole occupant of the vehicle, driving a silver Holden ute and asked her to produce her driver’s license.
Checks revealed Morris’ license was SPER suspended on October 29, 2020.