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THREE Maddington firms have escaped with a $250 fine for polluting 800m of a brook, which has outraged a land-care group.
The companies were fined this week after a large oil spill coated 800m of Bickley Brook.
The companies, which service mining equipment, can choose to pay the fine or challenge it in court, where they would face penalties up to $5000.
The Department of Environment and Conservation issued the fines, but refused to name the companies.
Toxic sludge was spotted by members of the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare, who claim waste from nearby companies often finds its way into the brook.
They branded the fines as pathetic.
``If we went down there (to Bickley Brook) in any flash rain event, we would pick up major contamination because the companies are not forced to clean up,'' said SERCUL regional director Julie Roberts.
``Through that area you can't get access, so if there are dead animals in there you would just never know.''
DEC environmental hazards manager Ken Raine said one of the companies fined this week had been issued with a caution for the same offence just months before.
He said while the fines were small the clean-up costs were the big deterrent.
Mrs Roberts claimed the council should be doing more.
City of Gosnells governance director Trevor Perkins said: ``The ... site is one sampling site that has been identified as a consistent pollution hot spot.
``The identification of other premises which may contribute pollutants is difficult due to the number of businesses whose stormwater drainage discharges at that point of the brook.
``The City of Gosnells, in partnership with SERCUL, is in the process of developing a strategy for identifying and addressing those point sources, with a view to working with DEC on resolving the problem.''
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