EPA Victoria continues to support Fire Rescue Victoria and all agencies in its response to the Derrimut chemical fire. Today’s efforts focussed on further clean up of contaminated firewater and contingency measures to prevent any further impact to waterways.
“Thanks to the efforts of all agencies we’re very pleased to report that the impacts to waterways appear to have been reduced. Today we heard lots of activity from healthy frogs at Anderson’s Swamp and saw swans and ducks cruising Cherry Lake,” said EPA Victoria Agency Commander Steve Lansdell.
“We have not seen any impacts to fish or birdlife at this stage, and while our real-time water sensors are showing firewater has impacted several areas of Laverton Creek and Cherry Creek, these are expected to improve with the help of forecast rains in coming days.”
EPA monitoring is in place at multiple locations including Mt Derrimut Golf Course as well as near Fitzgerald and Pipe Roads, Cherry Lake inlet and outlet, and Laverton Creek including Leakes Rd, Victoria, Queen and Merton Streets.
“We are still advising the public, and their pets, to avoid contact with the water at these locations. Our monitoring of Cherry Lake and the bay shows the firewater contamination has not reached them, but seasonal conditions and the heavy rain will have an effect on bay water quality,” Steve said.
“Our focus remains on protecting and assessing the health of the waterways, and when the site is made safe we’ll support FRV and WorkSafe in the longer-term investigations into how this major fire happened.”
Melbourne Water continues to work to remove contaminated water and take it away for disposal, with Brimbank Council undertaking intensive cleaning of roads surrounding the fire site.
