Department of Environment and Conservation regional leader of industry regulation, Neville Welsh, said Griffin was given an Environmental Protection Act (EPA) infringement notice following discharge of sediment into the Collie River.

Boronia Gully, which is along the Collie-Williams Road, and the Collie River were contaminated with sediment following heavy rainfall in June.

The river was left white and thick clay accumulated in the swampland.

Earlier this year, Griffin Coal’s chief executive, Russell Conley, said water bypassed a silt-retention pond and found its way into Boronia Gully.

As a result, Griffin was ordered to redesign its storm-water drainage system.

“The infringement notice was a modified penalty issued under the Environmental Protection (unauthorised discharged) regulation and carried a $250 fine,” Mr Welsh said.

“This fine was paid by the company on October 18. Preliminary investigations indicate there is minimal environmental impact caused by the release of the sediment from the Ewington mining operations.”

Mr Welsh said that since the action, DEC had worked closely with Griffin to ensure:

z Correct reconstruction of the Ewington Mine sediment basin to prevent future discharges of sediment to the Collie River took place;

z Monitoring of the impacts of the sediment on flora, fauna and river ecology take place and any impacts are reported to DEC;

z A monitoring program to evaluate the extent of sediment in the river is in place and reports are submitted to DEC;

z A strategy to remove the sediment from the Collie River with minimal impact to flora and fauna and stream ecology is in place and report progress to DEC;

z Implementation of a sediment removal strategy and report outcomes to DEC.

Mr Welsh said the first three directions were completed and reported to DEC.

Removal of sediment has started and is likely to be reported before Christmas.

The final direction — a sediment removal strategy — was dependent on river water levels as was the sediment removal strategy.

He said that if these directions were completed, preliminary estimations are that the river would recover after two or three average rainfall winters.