What happens if the discharged effluent exceeds the maximum limit allowed?
The minister strengthened the original approval conditions in January 2009 by stipulating that if the mill’s effluent outputs exceeded the specified maximum limits, it would be a breach of the approval. Gunns will be subject to civil and criminal sanctions under the national environment law, including penalties of up to $1.1 million for each offence. There is also an option within the conditions where the mill can be required to stop operating if effluent limits are exceeded. This can be used if the cause of the exceedence has not been identified and fixed.
