The 14,298kg of commercial fireworks were discovered during a search of a Lonsdale property on 2 December 2022 by SA Police.

SafeWork SA was notified and commenced an investigation.

Inspectors catalogued and seized three shipping containers of fireworks at the Lonsdale property.

The sole trader, who was operating a business of leasing shipping containers at the site, was charged with one offence under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 and three summary offences under the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations 2016.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the South Australian Employment Court on 20 May 2026 after a SafeWork SA prosecution.

More than 2000kg of the fireworks discovered across the three shipping containers were prohibited under the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations 2016.

Fireworks are explosives as defined in the Explosives Act and are classified as dangerous goods.

The possession and storage of fireworks is highly regulated. Storage requirements are calculated on the net explosive quantity (NEQ).

Based on the NEQ of the fireworks discovered, there were a number of homes, businesses, public streets and major roads within the minimum safety zone required for storage of fireworks in the quantity found at the defendant’s Lonsdale property.

There was no firefighting equipment of any kind within the vicinity of the fireworks. There were no warning signs at the entrance of the workplace.

There were no controls in place to mitigate the risk of explosion by the storage of fireworks at the workplace in mass quantity, although one did not occur.

In her sentencing remarks, Deputy President Judge Carrel said the fireworks “created a risk of a catastrophic incident”.

“This is not a matter of a licensed operator exceeding its licensed limit or failing to comply with its storage requirements … (the defendant) did not hold a licence to possess or store fireworks at the Lonsdale site,” Judge Carrel said.

A conviction was recorded and he was fined $34,000.

Judge Carrel ordered the fireworks be forfeited to SafeWork SA for destruction.

However, the fines were reduced to nil as the defendant is serving a prison sentence until at least the end of 2028 for unrelated offences and has no means to pay a fine.

Attribute quotes to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell

The scale of illegal storage in this case created a serious and unacceptable danger.

The possession and storage of fireworks is highly regulated for good reason.

These materials are inherently dangerous and must only be handled by licensed operators who comply with strict safety requirements.

SafeWork SA will continue to take strong enforcement action where laws are breached and community safety is put at risk.

Further links:

• Prosecutions