$18,000 fine for illegally storing asbestos

Anthony Rosier, 66, was found to have illegally operated a waste depot at his rented home in Highland Valley, near Macclesfield, between 10 November 2015 and 6 April 2017, and again at a second rental property at Bradbury, near Scott Creek, between 6 April and 25 September 2017.

The defendant had held licences to remove and transport asbestos between January 2006 and mid-August 2016, but both licences were cancelled following breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act and Work Health and Safety Regulations.

EPA officers visited the Highland Valley address and requested that Mr Rosier properly dispose of asbestos sheeting that was stored within a trailer, but instead he moved it a new address at Bradbury.

The EPA engaged a licensed contractor to remove a total of 1.76 tonnes of asbestos stored in the trailer at the Bradbury property.

Asbestos is a hazardous material and there are clear guidelines for the safe removal and disposal.

This conviction should serve as a warning to anyone who is not complying with their legal obligations to dispose of asbestos safely.

In his sentencing remarks, the judge said that personal deterrence was an important factor in this case, as Mr Rosier had previously been convicted in the Magistrates Court and ERD Court of a number of other offences relating to the removal and transport of asbestos, including falsifying transport certificates.

The defendant was also fined $1800 for two counts of using abusive or insulting language to an authorised officer for his behaviour to two EPA officers when they attended his property.

He was also required to pay $1782 for the removal of the asbestos, plus $800 in prosecution costs and $640 for the Victims of Crime Levy.

The maximum penalty for running an unlicensed asbestos waste depot is $60,000, while the maximum penalty for using abusive or insulting language to an authorised officer is $15,000.