Dalby Bio-Refinery gets fine

The Dalby Bio-Refinery in Queensland, Australia, was fined A$45,000 (US$44,415) after pleading guilty to two counts of contravening a condition of a development approval and one count of contravening an Environmental Protection Order (EPO). The odour that plagued the town for several months last year was caused by thin stillage in the refinery’s evaporative ponds. The company is in receivership. Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown said the court action sent a strong warning to every business and enterprise in the region, particularly the mining sector, that the protection of residents and the environment was paramount. (November 26, 2010)