A PERTH home building company was ordered to pay more than $126,000 in fines and costs by the Northam Magistrates Court on Monday, June 22.

GT Homes Pty Ltd of West Perth was fined $50,000 with $837.70 costs and daily penalties totalling $12,300 on each of two charges of contravening the provisions of a planning scheme.

The prosecution was brought by the Shire of York.

At the hearing the company did not attend, nor was it represented.

The Shire of York’s chief executive officer Ray Hooper said the charges arose after the company brought hundreds of tonnes of landfill and dumped it on two blocks it owns in York.

“We are pleased the court has taken the charges as seriously as we consider them,” he said.

“The company has previously been notified of all shire requirements in relation to development proposals for waste material and had been given the chance to rectify the matter but there has been no response.”

The case represents a windfall for the shire as all proceeds will go to it.

As the company owns the two blocks on which the fill was dumped, the shire will have recourse to place memorials on the titles to ensure the recovery of all outstanding debts.

The situation became more interesting last Friday when the fill on one of the blocks caught fire.

“The pollution response branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation became involved,” said Mr Hooper last Friday.

“It was declared to be a hazardous materials fire with FESA, the police and the shire attending.

“Containment procedures are in place.”