A Southern Tablelands truck driver has pleaded guilty to allowing manure to spill onto the roadway near Kiama while transporting a truck-load of cattle between Bomaderry and Scone.
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William Walter Raynolds, 34, chose not to front Wollongong Local Court on Thursday to face the charge, instead sending through a written letter indicating his guilty plea and asking for the matter to be transferred to Goulburn Local Court next month for a sentencing decision.
Roads and Maritime Services documents tendered to the court during a mention of the case said RMS inspectors noticed one of the trailer’s attacked to Raynold’s B-double was constantly spilling liquid waste onto the road while he was was travelling north along the Princes Highway jjust before 9.30am on September 2 last year.
Officers pulled the prime mover over in the rest area on the Kiama bends and asked Raynolds to produce his licence and work diary for inspection.
Raynolds complied with the request, handing over all the required documents.
After inspectors checked Raynolds’ diary, they proceeded to ask him questions about the waste, specifically if he knew that it was emitting from the trailer.
Raynolds said he did, prompting the inspectors to ask him if the truck and trailer had methods for storing liquid waste.
“The A trailer has a storage tank, but the B trailer just has plugs,” Raynolds answered.
“Did you empty this storage tank before starting your journey?” the inspectors asked.
“No I didn’t, there isn’t anywhere to empty them,” Raynolds responded.
The inspectors confirmed they would be reporting the matter to the authority.
Court documents revealed Raynolds was subsequently served with a penalty notice for the offence of ‘allowing to escape onto road any liquor/loose/waste material’.
The charge carries a maximum fine of $523.
Presiding Magistrate Michael Stoddart agreed to the request for a transfer of court venues.