McCLURE Earthmovers has been fined $6000 without conviction for overloading a water tanker.
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The matter was heard at Horsham Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The company lists current projects with Horsham Rural City Council and Illuka sand mine.
About 10.40am on January 28, a prime mover and trailer transporting water were stopped by a VicRoads patrol near Doeen.
The vehicle and trailer were both more than six per cent over the legal load limit.
The prosecution said both were deemed a severe risk breach. Evidence tendered to court revealed significant amounts of water spilt from the vehicle and trailer.
The company director pleaded guilty to the three charges.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose said the company had no history in any matter and had always complied with legislation. She said the company had been a responsible corporate citizen since the business started in 2006.
The defence argued the person responsible for filling and driving the vehicle was not a usual employee and did not follow instructions to only fill the tanker to an indicated level.
Ms Toose rejected the defence explanation.
“Your client should have properly supervised,” she said.
“Don’t blame the employee. It’s the supervision of the director that’s the problem.”
The defence said the business had implemented stringent procedures since the incident and purchased its own water tanker.
Rebecca Fenton faced five counts of burglary and theft at Horsham Magistrate’s Court.
Magistrate Toose said a preliminary hearing alleged Fenton committed the crimes, which included the theft of a motor vehicle and entering a friend’s house. She also took an iPad and sold it at Cash Converters for $120.
Fenton was found guilt of all five charges and issued a community corrections order without conviction.
Ms Toose also cancelled Fenton’s licence and disqualified her from driving for 12 months.
Fenton was ordered to pay compensation of $120.