The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) has completed a year-long investigation into the illegal disposal and burial of thousands of cubic metres of construction and demolition waste material onto the foreshore and into Darwin Harbour.

The investigation has resulted in DWD Project Pty Ltd  (DWD) and its sole company director Michael Adrian Anthony (Mr Anthony) being charged with intentionally polluting the environment causing serious environmental harm, in contravention of section 83(1) of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998.

If found guilty, the charges carry heavy penalties for both DWD and Mr Anthony.

It is alleged that between May 2016 to April 2018, DWD/Mr Anthony sourced several thousand cubic metres of construction and building wastes and that this material was disposed of and spread onto land owned by DWD/Mr Anthony and adjacent Crown Lands at Mavie Street, Darwin.

The disposal and burial of these wastes raised the levels of the land, covered foreshore habitat and filled a large area of Darwin Harbour with wastes and contaminants.

DWD and Mr Anthony were issued with Pollution Abatement Notices in 2018 to address this incident. At this time, all of the wastes allegedly deposited by DWD/Mr Anthony remain in situ. 

This matter is due to be heard at the Darwin Local Court on 27 May 2019.

Anyone with information about any pollution incident is reminded to contact the NT EPA Pollution Hotline on 1800 064 567 so that it can be investigated and appropriate action taken to prevent harm to the environment.

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Media Contact – Department of Environment and Natural Resources – 0437 915 366