Roach filled Rockingham restaurant hit with massive fine
An Italian restaurant in Rockingham, WA has been fined $40,000 after it was found to be infested with cockroaches.
The state of Lavoro Italiano Restaurant was labelled a danger to guests’ health, with prosecutors describing the kitchen as one of the worst they’d seen in WA.
The owners faced the Rockingham Magistrates Court on May 17.
Prosecutor Peter Gillet, for the City of Rockingham, labelled the kitchen a “systemic failure” and said it had a history of “non-compliance” to food standards since 2022.
“Inspectors saw live and dead cockroaches,” he said.
“Cockroaches seen during the day indicates a serious infestation.
“When they were pointed out, the owner was not surprised.”
Gillet said oil dripped down walls, cigarette butts were on the floor, dirty utensils were stored in buckets, windows had no screens and prawns, mussels, and fish were stored at temperatures of 12C and 8C much higher than the recommended 5C.
“Open buckets of sauces and uncovered food was sitting on benches and exposed to dirt from shelves above and aerosols from coughing or sneezing,” he said.
“It could only be described as filthy.”
Court proceedings were instigated after years of non compliance.
“There was an inspection as recent as yesterday,” Gillett said. “I find this extraordinary but there has been no change.”
Trent Andrews representing Lavoro owners Adventure Group WA said that although a professional clean had been booked it “didn’t move the grease and grime at all.”
“They’ve spent $40,000 on new kitchen equipment as this is deeply baked in grime over a long period of time,” Andrews said.
According to Andrews, a first offence should only attract a minimum fine.
However Gillet pointed out a fish and chip shop with similar levels of grime was fined $80,000.
“There is a strong need for personal deterrence,” Gillett argued.
“My submission is the offence here is worse. It is a larger operation; they employ staff and have another restaurant.”
Magistrate Anne Longden agreed with Gillett.
“Seeing the photos … this is a serious example of this type of offending,” she said.
“But this is not a case of complete defiance.
“This exercise will have some impact on the reputation of the company and so it should.”
Jonathan Jackson, 5th June 2024
