First conviction under explosives Act

Milbrae Quarries Pty Ltd is the first company to be successfully prosecuted under the Explosives Act 2003 for not holding a licence while storing explosives at two of its quarries near Leeton and Rankin Springs.

On Friday 3 October at Leeton Local Court, Milbrae Quarries was convicted of two offences under the Explosives Act 2003 which commenced in September 2005.

During the hearing Magistrate Dare endorsed the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ submission that the offences were deemed serious enough to warrant prosecution.

The Magistrate fined the company $10,000 for each offence and ordered the company to also pay the Department of Primary Industries’ costs.

"This is a very significant conviction and should serve as a warning to other mining and quarrying companies to ensure they hold licences where storage of explosives is concerned" said Alan Coutts Deputy Director General, NSW Department of Primary Industries.

"This conviction reinforces the importance of ensuring the safety and security arrangements for storage of explosives, and the need for close attention to the safeguards called for under the licensing scheme" he added.

Further reading

Minerals and petroleum legislation