Man facing 55 charges over dangerous chemical stockpiles

Harkness resident Graham Leslie White, 58, has been charged with 55 offences under sections 31, 31C and 45 of the Dangerous Goods Act 1985. White is facing 11 offences over the illegal stockpiling of dangerous goods at five sites in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, in four warehouses he occupied in Epping and one in Campbellfield.

It is alleged that at each site, White failed to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any fire or explosion of dangerous goods in his ownership, and neglected to dispose of them safely. White has also been charged for each site, for failing to take reasonable precautions against fire or explosion, despite knowing this failure could endanger the safety or health of people, property or the environment.

White also failed to reduce the risks associated with the storage of dangerous goods at each site and the risk of reactions between the dangerous goods and other substances at each of the premises. White is further accused of breaching regulations on placarding, fire protection, spill containment, keeping a prescribed manifest and failing to notify the Victorian WorkCover Authority of the presence of an excess quantity of dangerous goods at each site.

Environment Protection Authority and WorkSafe Victoria investigations in Melbourne’s northern suburbs uncovered White’s stockpiles in five sites, which have now been emptied of waste chemicals totalling more than six million litres. The matters are listed for a filing mention in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 17 January 2020.

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