The Environmental Improvers are local businesses that participated in the Marion and Mitcham Environmental Education Project and have implemented environmental management initiatives in their workplace. Most have concentrated on reducing the risk of stormwater pollution from their businesses.

Congratulations to the following businesses:


Graham West Workshops

Graham West Workshops prides itself on being an environmentally conscious organisation. One of the first things the family owned business did was to have their disused underground fuel storage tanks removed. Office Manager, Lynette West explains that this was decided as the tanks posed too great a risk to their own future and that of the surrounding residents. Underground storage tanks are far too often ignored as their owners/users forget they are there or continue to use them without ever having them tested for leaks. Although no leaks were evident, the Graham West tanks were removed regardless, protecting the site from future expenses and litigation. This is particularly pertinent with the recently passed Environment Protection (Site Contamination) Amendment Bill 2007.

The business has had a number of Environmental Site Reviews conducted by Council , and after each Graham West Workshops has set out to achieve a solution for all the issues that were raised. They addressed the risk of a chemical spill and rainwater contamination from the Carpark by purchasing a spill kit, training their staff, and organising their chemical storage. The Carpark was addressed by installing filters in all stormwater drains. In looking at their chemical storage, they had their small drums stacked on shelving and the storage area bunded. They faced the difficult issue of using two 2000 oil tanks that couldn’t practically be bunded. Their innovative solution was to cut a hole in one tank and install a smaller tank inside it, creating a spill safe system. The other tank was removed and replaced with a 1000 L tank, which was all the capacity, required and was then included in the storage area bunding.

The wash bay was also on the list to be addressed so SA Water was called and an inspection arranged. Apart from some minor work to prevent wastewater escaping the wash bay area, no problems were raised. Graham West Workshops was issued with a Trade waste discharge permit and is operating in compliance with the relevant sewerage legislation.

The environmental management activities also investigated their disposal methods for various wastes. Several items such as oil filters were inappropriately going into the general waste bin that was headed for landfill. The company contacted a recycling service provider and changed from disposal to recycling. Coolant, which was once discharged through the wash bay, is also collected at the point of service and disposed of through a licensed waste contractor.

Graham West have also produced an Emergency Spill Response Plan and put a Small Business Environmental Management System in place to continue to fine tune their operations in regards to environmental protection.

In recognition of implementing these Environmental Best Practices, Graham West Workshops were awarded the WaterCare Business Recognition Certificate and Sign. They had the honour of being the first small to medium sized business in the City of Marion to qualify for the award. Pictured below is Lynette West with the WaterCare Sign.


The aim of the WaterCare Business Recognition Scheme was to profile businesses who are leaders in stormwater/water quality improvement, and to provide the community with an opportunity to select businesses that are recognised for their efforts in this important endeavour. The Scheme was free to businesses that achieved a towards best practice rating during their site review conducted by a MMEEP Officer and took other initiatives to prevent stormwater pollution. Participating business received a free WaterCare Business Recognition sign that could be affixed to their premises and a validation certificate for internal display.


DM Hydraulics


DM Hydraulics of Edwardstown are a hydraulic hose retailer and servicing business specialising in large earth moving and mining equipment and injection moulding machinery.

As a result of owners Gerald and Kathy Woud (pictured above) actively implementing all the practices and procedures recommended by the MMEEP Officers, DM Hydraulics qualified for the WaterCare Business Recognition Scheme. These improvements include:

• Fully bunding their oil storage shed.
• Using a variety of drip trays and spill mats when servicing equipment in the unsealed yard and storing these undercover.
• Padlocking the waste skip ensuring it remains closed thus preventing rain from entering the skip and perhaps eventually rusting and contaminating the ground .
• Re-positioning large containers of liquids so as they were all within the confines of a bunded area.
• Producing an Emergency Spill Response Plan in case of accident.

Gerald and Kathy's main concern was that the business was fully compliant with all Environmental as well as Occupational, Health and Safety legislative requirements.

Flextool (Aust) Pty Ltd

Flextool (Aust) Pty Ltd and State Manager Nick Rowe participated in their second Environmental Site Review in August 2007. Although the company is not a high pollution risk, Nick has taken it on himself to ensure the company is managing any risk.
As the business is a supplier of some chemicals, after the initial visit a spill kit was installed in the storage area and staff training was undertaken. The actual storage of chemicals was also addressed with bunded pallets brought in for the drums of product.

As the company undertakes some servicing of equipment, they had a solvent based wash tank in the workshop. This has been replaced with an aqueous hot wash, which is maintained by the provider. This has reduced the amount of unnecessary chemicals kept on site and provided a healthier option for staff.

Nick has also introduced routine, six monthly, spill management training for his staff. Something which other Flextool outlets have adopted.

Flextool (Aust) Pty Ltd has also made the decision to improve its waste management by contracting a waste service provider to remove oily rags and waste oil from the business. The waste oil is also kept in a bunded area. Flextool also removed a collection of hard waste from the rear yard to a more suitable location, undercover.

As with other local businesses Flextool (Aust) Pty Ltd wants to maintain its status of environmental leadership by implementing a small business environmental management system. This will assist the company to market it’s green practices and continuously improve those practices into the future. The net result is likely to be good customer relations and less regulatory attention.


Sam Bright Motors

Sam Bright Motors received a WaterCare Business Recognition sign and certificate as a result of implementing a number of recommended activities.

Following an Environmental Site Review by the MMEEP Officer, Deirdre Bright (manager/owner) has installed slightly raised, curved bunding at the entrances of her workshop which means the workshop is now a bunded area. Consequently, all containers, drums and wash stations containing various liquids etc. in the work shop are legally contained and now present very little threat to the stormwater system.

Deirdre has also filled and cemented a pit in the workshop which presented a potential pollution hazard to the soil and ground water, and has removed a large waste oil container from the side of the premises which was neither roofed or bunded. Also, in the same area, a number of uncovered parts contaminated with oil and rust have been removed and a build up of grease and grime on the side of the galvanised iron fence has been cleaned.

Finally, Sam Bright Motors have purchased a spill control kit and produced an Emergency Spill Control Plan.



All Bake Services


Following the initial site review by the Marion Project Officer, All Bake services were made aware of a better way to manage their waste oil storage. The company responded immediately and their issues were resolved within a week.

Their waste oil drum was moved from the car park far back into the workshop to eliminate the risk of a spill. They took the opportunity to have the drum emptied, by Mulherns, and have begun to keep Waste Tracking Forms to prove their waste is disposed of legally. They also took the initiative to clean the area where the drum had been sitting. Over the time that oil had been stored outdoors, a noticeable amount of oil had spilled onto the asphalt. This greasy patch was polluting rain run-off every time it rained. By addressing these matters, All Bake Services have ensured they are protecting our valuable waterways.

For further information please contact Rebecca Neumann on 8375 6624 during office hours or by email Rebecca.Neumann@marion.sa.gov.au