Problems at Queensland resorts
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued Delaware North Group with a notice on 17 July for conditions at its Heron Island resort after a number of complaints were made.
Delaware North Group has launched an internal investigation over claims of unsanitary and unsafe working conditions at the company’s Heron Island resort.
Last week corporate communications manager Judith Meadows issued the following statement:
“We have been in consultation with a number of regulatory authorities during the desalination plant malfunction, so as to ensure provision for clean and certified water were always available for drinking and food preparation. In accordance with our corporate standards and recommendation of regulatory authorities, a full internal review of the incident has occurred and all risk and response plans updated to reflect learning and best practice, which includes the complete rebuilding of the facility to mitigate any future recurrence.”
Claims made against Delaware North Group by former employees consist of staff allegedly being forced to work in unsanitary conditions.
Meanwhile LQ Management P/L, the operator of the now closed Laguna Whitsunday resort and its director David Marriner have been fined a total of $90,000 in the Mackay Magistrates Court after the resort’s sewage treatment system allegedly discharged raw effluent into nearby waterways.
The company pleaded guilty to two counts of wilfully breaching a development approval condition and one count of wilfully causing environmental harm under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. LQ Management was fined $70,000 and David Marriner was fined $20,000.
Deputy director general of the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Dean Ellwood, said the Queensland government would not tolerate companies that knowingly harmed the environment.
Mr Ellwood said adequate repairs were not made to the faulty sewage treatment system despite LQ Management and David Marriner being aware that sewage was entering the local environment.
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.