A popular New South Wales ski resort has been ordered to pay more than $200,000 for polluting waterways in the Snowy Mountains.
The NSW Land and Environment Court found the Charlotte Pass Snow Resort had failed to maintain and operate its sewage treatment plant properly, which led to 11.65 million litres of partially-treated sewage leaking into Spencers Creek over 78 days in 2019.
The sewage was found to have ammonia and total nitrogen levels, in excess of licence limits, which could potentially cause environmental damage.
National Parks Association chief operating officer Gary Dunnett said operators in Kosciuszko National Park needed to do better.
"We have to demand that any lessee that is occupying one of the most sensitive landscapes in Australia is maintaining their equipment," Mr Dunnett said.
"And is using the highest possible measures to ensure that they don't adversely impact the environment.
"It's really disappointing to see that it's got to that point."
The resort had pleaded guilty to polluting the waterways and this week was convicted and fined in the Land and Environment Court.
In her judgement, Justice Rachel Pepper said the concentration of ammonia in one sample taken downstream of the treatment plant was "more than 600 times greater" than those taken upstream of the plant.
The court also found that the damage caused by the pollution was actually foreseeable by the resort.
"Charlotte Pass had actual knowledge that the [treatment plant's] diffusers needed to be repaired," the judgement stated.
The resort has been ordered to pay $144,000 in fines for water pollution and for breaching its licence.
It was also ordered to pay for the NSW Environment Protection Authority's investigation costs of more than $90,000 as well as legal costs.
Environment Protection Authority chief executive Tony Chappel said in a statement that operators in the park were expected to meet the highest environmental standards.
"Most disappointingly, the offences were foreseeable with the resort having knowledge that the plant and equipment in question needed to be repaired," Mr Chappel said.
"If you know that your equipment doesn't meet the standards required, it must be addressed, failure to do so is an unacceptable disregard for the environment."
The Blyton Group that owns Charlotte Pass Snow resort has been contacted for comment.
Further development plans a concern
Mr Dunnett said further development plans in the national park had been laid out in a new Snowy Mountains master plan.
"The NSW government has just approved increasing overnight accommodation in Kosciuszko National Park by more than 4,000 beds," he said.
"So, you can only wonder, if the system is already struggling, how an extra 4,000 people ... can possibly be accommodated without adverse environmental impact?"
The master plan sets out a 40-year vision for the Snowy Mountains and aims to turn the region into a year-round tourism destination.
Mr Dunnet said further development would come at a cost.
"We are extraordinarily concerned at the escalating impact that's going to come out of these major developments in Kosciuszko," he said.
"The impact is far greater than it might appear just from the footprint of an individual cabin.
"You have to think about what's the waste management that goes with it."
Editor's note 29/11/22: This article initially stated that 14 million litres of partially-treated sewage leaked into Spencer's Creek. It has been corrected to clarify that the amount agreed between the EPA and the resort was 11.65 million litres.
