The Department of Planning and Environment issued the penalty to the company for breaching approval conditions at its meat processing site on the Gwydir Highway.

Compliance officers found the company had started earthworks for its approved processing plant before submitting the required Construction Environmental Management Plan.

Officers made the discovery in an unannounced inspection.

A Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson said the company cooperated with the compliance investigation and must now submit the required plan to the Department for approval.

“No further works are allowed to occur until this plan has been submitted to the Department,” the spokesperson said.

“Once constructed, the plant is proposed to reduce odour and carbon emissions at the existing abattoir site.

“The company must now pay the $15,000 penalty and the Department will continue to monitor the site.

“Our compliance officers review reports and conduct audits, undertake spot checks without warning, as well as work with companies to ensure they are sticking to the rules.

“Compliance enforcement can include warning letters and orders, Department fines of up to $15,000, and prosecutions for the most serious offences with penalties of up to $5 million in the Land and Environment Court.

“The community is encouraged to contact the Department with compliance concerns. Complaints will be investigated.”

The Leader contacted Bindaree Beef for a comment, but the company was unable to supply one.

The fine follows the company laying off a number of workers in June, after the abattoir's kill rate fell from 1100 head per day to about 900 per day. It was reported up to 100 people lost their job.