Latest news with #Dubbo
ABC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Australian Pet Brands to upgrade Dubbo facility after chemical leak
A pet food manufacturer will spend more than $1.3 million upgrading safety systems at its facility in central west New South Wales after a chemical spill in 2023. Australian Pet Brands (APB), also known as Real Pet Food Co, has entered a legally binding agreement with the NSW Environment Protection Authority after 300 litres of phosphoric acid leaked from a drum inside a production tower at its Dubbo facility in August 2023, due to a faulty valve. The chemical, used to extend the shelf life of pet food, spread across multiple levels of the building and triggered an emergency clean-up by hazardous materials (HAZMAT) crews. EPA executive director of regulatory operations Jason Gordon said the enforceable undertaking, a legal agreement used as an alternative to prosecution, would ensure the company was held to account. "Fortunately, no environmental harm occurred, but the potential risk was significant," he said. "APB must pay more than a million dollars in major infrastructure upgrades to reduce the likelihood of similar events and ensure any incidents can be contained and addressed quickly and effectively." As part of the agreement, APB agreed it would relocate its acid dosing system to the ground floor, automate manual systems such as valve controls, strengthen containment and improve staff training and inspections. The company will also contribute $75,000 to the Wambangalang Environmental Education Centre to help repair and upgrade its model wetland learning facility. APB has been contacted for comment. Mr Gordon said the EPA would closely monitor the company's compliance with the agreement through detailed progress reporting. "These changes will not only make the site safer for workers, but they'll also provide stronger protection for the environment by improving how chemicals are stored, handled and monitored," Mr Gordon said.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie pet food company agrees to pay $1.3 million after 'serious' environmental incident
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has agreed to an undertaking from an Australian pet food company that it will spend more than $1.375 million on safety equipment upgrades following an incident at its factory. The legally binding agreement was made after 300 litres of phosphoric acid spilled from a drum at the Australian Pet Brands facility in Dubbo, NSW. The acid is a common ingredient in pet food, and often used in very small quantities to improve flavour or prolong shelf-life. But the scope of the incident was so serious, emergency HAZMAT crews were called in to respond, and they discovered the liquid had spread across multiple floors. Jason Gordon, the EPA executive director of regulatory operations, described the 2023 event as a 'serious chemical spill', which therefore 'demanded' a response from emergency services. 'Fortunately, no environmental harm occurred, but the potential risk was significant,' he added. Pictures supplied to Yahoo News show the plastic tank that overflowed was severely discoloured by the spill. It occurred due to a faulty valve inside the factory's production tower. What changes will the pet food factory make? Under the agreement, Australian Pet Brands, will spend over $1 million relocating its acid dosing system from the top to the ground floor. It will also automate manual systems and improve training to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents. 'These changes will not only make the site safer for workers, but they'll also provide stronger protection for the environment by improving how chemicals are stored, handled and monitored,' Gordon said. 🥊 Aussie publican receives death threats after filming controversial act with kangaroo 🔎 Rare species with less than a thousand in the wild tracked down ☠️ Warning signs placed around Australian shopping centre after mass poisoning The company will also pay $75,000 to a local environmental charity. The EPA said the outcome holds the company to account while also helping to improve safety at the site. Australian Pet Brands has been contacted for comment. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
21-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Nonna's Bakehouse loses $2.5m lawsuit against Dubbo's Ben Furney Flour Mills
Nonna's Bakehouse has lost a $2.5-million lawsuit against its flour supplier after claiming the "inconsistent" product was ruining its bread. The dispute with Ben Furney Flour Mills reached the New South Wales Supreme Court last week after the Dubbo-based business launched legal action over more than $780,000 in invoices not paid since 2022. Nonna's Bakehouse hit back with a $2.5m countersuit alleging breach of contract and misleading conduct, claiming the mill "nosedived" the quality of its bread with "inconsistent flour". According to court documents, the bakehouse began experiencing problems in 2021 when its bread became "sticky" and absorbed less water, prompting one of its directors to urge the mill to "fix the issue". The mill investigated production data, ran test bakes, sent technical staff to the bakery and made adjustments with its milling processes, but could not identify any fault with the flour. In handing down her judgement, Justice Kelly Anne Rees found that while there may have been some variation in the flour due to seasonal factors and grain sourcing, the real shift occurred in late 2021 when Nonna's Bakehouse changed its head baker. During the proceedings the court heard Nonna's Bakehouse's technical support manager, Sergio Soria, resigned in October 2021 and that Jorge Gironda, who was not a baker by trade, took over the role. The court heard Mr Soria had explained to chief executive Sarah Furney that he did not "agree with the direction" the company wanted to head in. "This isn't Nonna's — this is not who we are or what we stand for," he said of a restructure at the company. Justice Rees found that after the change in leadership the company instructed Mr Gironda to revert to its "original recipe," which contributed significantly to the baking issues. "This departed from Mr Soria's process of adding gluten or malt if needed to achieve a consistent baking product," Justice Rees found. Court documents showed that following a change in bread quality Mr Gironda emailed the mill and insisted it was its job to supply "the right fuel to run the Ferrari". When the mill failed to identify any fault with the flour Mr Gironda requested tests on each bag of the product and not just the bulk tankers. Justice Rees found that despite being told the mill could not meet the bakery's specific needs, Nonna's Bakehouse continued to order flour and refused to adapt its process, which was not required under the contract. In May 2022 Nonna's Bakehouse stopped paying its invoices to the flour mill and, after ignoring offers to set up a payment plan, Furney's ceased supply by August. Justice Rees also ruled that the bakehouse's claims of financial hardship as a result of the mill and its "inconsistent flour" were unsubstantiated. "What is immediately striking from the historical financial performance of the baker, for the 2019 to 2023 financial years, is the significant increase in the baker's sales over those years, increasing by 45 per cent overall," she said. She ruled in favour of Ben Furney Flour Mills and ordered Nonna's to pay $783,178, plus interest and legal costs.
News.com.au
20-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Devastating': Tragedy as Year 12 student at Sydney private school killed in crash near family's home
A Year 12 student and rower at one of Sydney's most exclusive private schools has died in a horrific car crash near his family's home. Stirling Heriot, 17, was killed in a crash near his family's remote property at Quambone, 200km north of Dubbo, New South Wales, on Friday night. Emergency services were called to Quambone Road at 6.45pm following reports of an accident and found a teenage driver dead at the scene. Police said the vehicle had 'left the roadway and rolled'. In a statement on social media, The King's School in Parramatta, in Sydney's west, paid tribute to the teenager, who was known for his 'generosity' and comittment to the school's rowing team. 'Stirling was widely admired for his kindness, generosity and willingness to engage warmly with those around him,' the independent Anglican school, which charges boarding students upwards of $80,000 a year, wrote on Facebook. 'A dedicated contributor to school life, he was a committed member of the 2nd IV in Rowing and had previously been involved in Rugby and Cadets. The school said the teenager was 'proudly building a tandem-axle multipurpose farm trailer intended for use on the family property as his major project' before he passed. 'His loss will be deeply felt by his family, his friends, the Baker Hake boarding community, his Year 12 peers, and many others across the School who had the privilege of knowing and teaching him. 'As we navigate this difficult time, our focus will be on supporting one another, especially our students,' it added. 'Please keep the Heriot family in your prayers during this profoundly painful time.' Many online paid tribute to the 'kind' and 'gentle' teenager whose life was tragically cut short 'too soon'. 'This young boy brought joy, light, and laughter to those around him. In his short time here, he left a mark that time will not erase. His spirit was gentle, his smile unforgettable,' one person wrote. 'So incredibly tragic! My heart is broken for the family. Sending all my love and thoughts to the Heriot family and all his friends,' said another. 'So devastating such a young boy lost to soon,' another wrote. Year 12 students in NSW are due to sit HSC exams in under three months.
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Popular bread brand sues for $2.5 million
A popular Aussie bread brand has sued its flour mill for $2.5 million in damages after accusing it of 'nosediving' the quality of its bread with 'inconsistent' flour. Nonna's Bakehouse – which supplies more than 100 different types of baked goods to Woolworths, Aldi and Harris Farm – and Ben Furney Flour Mills battled it out in the NSW Supreme Court this week as part of an ongoing disagreement between the two companies. The Dubbo-based flour mill lodged the legal action, which sought $800,000 from the bakery for the unpaid invoices from 2022, with Nonna's countersuing for $2.5 million for a breach of contract. The court heard how the bakehouse's issues began in 2021 when its bread became water absorbent and 'sticky' with director Francesco Sergi urging the flour mill to 'fix the issue'. Despite test runs, visits to the factory and meetings, Ben Furney Flour Mills was unable to identify any issues with the flour provided. The court heard how the bakery's research and production manager, Jorge Gironda, pleaded with the flour mill to: 'Please provide us with the right fuel to run the Ferrari.' In May 2022, Nonna's stopped paying invoices to the flour mill, resulting in the flour mill ceasing supply in August. However, Justice Kelly Ann Rees found the change came after Nonna's changed its head baker, who resigned in September/October 2021, with Mr Gironda taking over. Judge Rees found that after taking over the role, Mr Sergi had told Mr Gironda to revert to an 'original recipe'. 'Mr Sergi appears to have taken the opportunity of a change of baker to return to the baker's original recipe. 'This departed from (the former head baker's) process of adding gluten or malt if needed to achieve a consistent baking product.' Judge Rees also ruled the bakehouse's claims that they had suffered a 'substantial loss' as a result of the 'inconsistent flour' were unfounded. 'What is immediately striking from the historical financial performance of the baker, for the 2019 to 2023 financial years, is the significant increase in the baker's sales over those years, increasing by 45 per cent overall,' Judge Rees said. 'Whatever is said to have been wrong with the flour provided by the miller, it does not appear to have affected sales.' Judge Rees ruled in favour of Ben Furney Flour Mills, ordering a payment of $783,178 together with interest at 10 per cent per annum. Nonna's Bakehouse was also ordered to pay the flour mill's legal costs.
