Bayswater Power Station fined $15,000 for alleged saline water discharge

Saline seepage from the Lake Liddell dam wall is collected and pumped back into lake. Late last year, a pump failure resulted in saline water, with concentrations in excess of that of Lake Liddell, to discharge from the collection system and into Bayswater Creek.

The NSW EPA issued AGLM with formal warnings for failing to immediately report the incident, as well as the failure to operate plant equipment in an efficient manner. 

When AGLM notified the EPA of the incident it implemented action to cease the discharge. The EPA has signalled to ALGM that it intends to vary Bayswater’s Environment Protection Licence to require that it review the adequacy of the seepage collection system and investigate the source of the elevated salinity in the seepage water.

Quotes that can be attributed to NSW EPA Executive Director Steve Beaman:

“It’s disappointing that over the past two years, we have seen several water pollution incidents at the Bayswater site, impacting the local environment and waterways.  

“As a major operator in the Hunter region, we expect AGL Macquarie to be meeting its licence obligations while also doing what it can to protect the region’s natural environment.

“With any aging infrastructure it is critical that companies regularly check and maintain their equipment to reduce the risk of pollution incidents like we have seen here.

“Any sudden change in the conditions of a waterway can have a severe impact, with most aquatic organisms only able tolerate a specific salinity range.

“We are committed to working with NSW industries and communities to prevent water pollution and will always enforce regulatory action when obligations are not met.”