A North Coast sugar mill has been fined $15,000 over a toxic discharge into the Richmond River.
The Environment Protection Authority found NSW Sugar Milling Co-Operative at Broadwater released around 1,000 litres of caustic solution into the river on September 8.
EPA North Coast Manager Brett Nudd says the company’s systems failed to stop the spill during an evaporative cleaning operation.
The mill’s owner, Sunshine Sugar, says the spill was minor and had no detrimental effect.
It’s also questioned the need for such a fine and claims the money would have been better spent on implementing system improvements.
text will be replaced
