The family business of Port Stephens Mayor, Bruce MacKenzie, has been fined $15,000 and issued an official caution, for breaching a clean up notice.
The New South Wales EPA commenced an investigation into Salt Ash sand mining company Macka’s Sand and Soil in 2013, and a clean up notice was issued.
However the environmental watchdog has stepped up its punishment after finding more waste on the site in October last year.
EPA Director of Waste and Resource Recovery, Steve Beaman, says the waste included 10 tonnes of asbestos and breached the clean-up notice.
“The waste included almost 360 tonnes building and demolition waste including asbestos. Laboratory analysis confirmed asbestos to be present in waste that had been brought into the premises since the notice was issued in 2013”, he said.
The waste has since been removed, the EPA is continuing to monitor the site.
