9 Aug 2009

$A25m settlement on oil spill clean-up costs

12:54 pm on 9 August 2009

A settlement has been reached over costs stemming from a coastal oil spill in south-east Queensland from a cargo ship in March.

Broken fuel tanks from the Pacific Adventurer leaked more than 270,000 litres of oil, coating beaches in the region.

Swire Shipping says it will pay $A25 million towards the clean-up bill, in addition to the $2 million it has already spent.

The ABC reports the rest of the estimated $A31 million will be funded by an increase in federal shipping levies.

State Premier Anna Bligh says it is a good outcome that means Queensland taxpayers "won't be paying one cent."

Swire says the payment was above and beyond the company's legal requirement.