Queensland Alumina to pay $500,000 fine for environmental damage due to chemical spill

Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) has been fined $500,000 by Gladstone Magistrates Court for the chemical spill incident in September 2018, resulting in serious environmental harm and violating Environmental Authority (EA) rule. This is one of the largest environmental fines in Queensland charged after QAL pleaded guilty.

Over two years ago, an over-pressure safety system, opened during unplanned maintenance, released up to 3 tonnes of alkali bauxite slurry into the atmosphere causing damages to homes and cars in the coastal industrial suburb of South Trees in Gladstone.

Alkali bauxite slurry is a chemical formed during the process of creating alumina.

According to prosecutor Deborah Holiday QC, this incident was due to the error committed by untrained operators, as neither the electricians nor the specialists received proper training.

Ms Holliday sought a penalty of $500,000 in damages, acting on behalf of the Department of Environment and Science.

Defence attorney Ralph Devlin QC also admitted the serious environmental harm caused by the incident, and therefore, did not encourage acting Magistrate Ross Woodford to consider a lesser fine.

Prior to this, QAL was dragged to the court five times for causing environmental harm.

Magistrate Woodford said the company had an "unenviable record of being the most prosecuted person, or individual, or corporation, in the Environmental Act's 26-year history."

In a statement, QAL general manager Pine Pienaar said they accepted the court's decision.

"Queensland Alumina Limited deeply regrets the caustic release in September 2018 and we apologise for the impact caused," he said.