Bendigo cafe cops $22k fine for hygiene

A Bendigo business was fined $22,000 in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday after being found guilty of 20 Food Act breaches.

Sulyon Pty Ltd director Robert Southcombe appeared in court to answer Food Act breach claims at The Bridge bar, cafe and restaurant at 49 Bridge Street, Bendigo.

Prosecuting, Louisa Dicker told the court City of Greater Bendigo health inspectors visited The Bridge on July 25 last year.

She said they noted a build up of grime on fixtures and fittings, ants in the kitchen and food uncovered and not date-labelled.

Ms Dicker said the handwash basin in the kitchen was not working and a food safety program was not being implemented.

Ms Dicker said inspections in August and September found further breaches of the Food Act.

She said during a November 28 inspection flies were observed in the kitchen, raw meat in metal trays was poorly covered and staff were observed not washing their hands between tasks.

Ms Dicker provided Magistrate Bruce Cottrill with photographs taken during the inspections.

Defence counsel sought a sentence indication and the matter was briefly stood down before Southcombe pleaded guilty to the breaches.

“The nature of the charges are such that substantial monetary penalties apply,” Mr Cottrill said.

“Where a company’s involved, the charges can be as high as $200,000.”

Mr Cottrill accepted efforts had been made to rectify the situation at The Bridge but issues such as delays with builders had taken some time.

“This is a case where it would appear you resumed possession of the business and at that stage it was obviously run down... I’m satisfied that all matters are now complied with.”

Sulyon Pty Ltd was convicted and fined $22,000. Mr Southcombe fined $3000 with no conviction.

Source: Bendigo Advertiser, 20 June 2012