A Melbourne property developer and his business have been handed a hefty fine of $170,000 for the destruction of several hectares of native vegetation in Truganina, a suburb in Melbourne’s west. Peter Wu, the owner of Centreland Agriculture Co., purchased the property at Mount Atkinson Road in April 2021 for $11 million. However, the land was not just any property—it had been designated as a conservation area under an agreement between state and federal authorities, making the destruction of its native grasslands a serious environmental violation.
The land was home to some of Victoria’s last remaining native grasslands, including kangaroo grass, which was devastated by the works undertaken on the property. Lawyers representing Melton City Council argued that Mr. Wu failed to exercise proper diligence as a director of Centreland Agriculture Co. when imported fill was deposited over a significant portion of the land. As a result, approximately 19 hectares of native vegetation were destroyed, and the land was left in a state described by the council’s lawyers as effectively “moonscaped.”
Mr. Wu and Centreland Agriculture Co. both pleaded guilty to the charges, and the consequences were severe. At the Sunshine Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Mr. Wu was fined $70,000, while his company, Centreland, received a fine of $100,000. However, the financial burden did not stop there. The developer and his company were also ordered to pay the council’s legal fees, totaling an additional $90,000. As a result, the total cost of the destruction amounted to a staggering $260,000.
Despite the significant fines, Mr. Wu’s early guilty plea spared him from a criminal conviction. In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Mark Sabljak described the destruction as a “serious example of such a breach of the act.” He further noted that had Mr. Wu and Centreland Agriculture Co. pleaded not guilty, the fines could have totaled $250,000. This ruling highlights the severe penalties associated with damaging protected natural environments and serves as a cautionary tale for developers and businesses operating in conservation areas.
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