- Published:
- Thursday 6 February 2025 at 10:03 am
A Melbourne court has found a civil construction company put nearby residents at risk for about 6 months after its employees broke a gas service line and covered up the damage.
PDI Civil was convicted and fined $20,000 after being found guilty of charges brought by Energy Safe Victoria including negligently breaking a gas pipeline and carrying out unauthorised gas work.
The Ringwood Magistrates’ Court heard PDI Civil employees were digging a trench when they struck and broke a gas service line at Surrey Hills in June 2023.
They then concealed the damage using duct tape, a rag and a water fitting to try to repair the gas line before covering it up. They also failed to report the break to the gas company and did not disclose it during a site inspection by the business that had contracted them to do the work.
The makeshift repairs were not discovered until November 2023 after a resident reported a strong smell of gas. A gas service crew attended the site where it detected high levels of gas and found gas leaking from the broken service line.
Energy Safe informed the court that the release of uncontrolled gas carries serious safety risks including fire, explosion, and disruptions to the community’s essential gas supply.
Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson said gas leaks have to be dealt with urgently to keep people safe.
“Only qualified people with the proper authority and specialist equipment can work on gas pipelines – anyone else is putting themselves and the community at risk, “Ms Hughson said.
Magistrate Ong said it was clear the uncontrolled release of gas carries safety risks to the community.
In sentencing His Honour said a message needed to be sent to the community that this type of offending would not be tolerated and that care needed to be taken with this type of work.
Energy Safe. Always.
Media contact: 0477 572 378 | media@energysafe.vic.gov.au
Reviewed