The Victorian Greens have called on the Government to put the health and safety of communities first and fix the waste crisis.
With news that a stockpile of toxic waste has been discovered in West Footscray and that another fire has broken out in SKM’s former Coolaroo warehouse, communities deserve better.
Member for Melbourne, Ellen Sandell, said while rogue operators had illegally dumped stockpiles of toxic waste for far too long, the Labor Government had not done enough to fix the crisis.
For instance, the on the waste inquiry in Victoria revealed that the EPA had not set timelines for the removal of excess waste or even identified the types of waste being stored in Campbellfield before it suspended Bradbury Industrial Services’ licence earlier this year.
If these precautions were in place, the fire that took place in Campbellfield two weeks later may have been avoided.
By failing to take stronger action, Victoria has found itself in the midst of a state-wide waste crisis that has stemmed from a failure of leadership and oversight on the part of the State Labor Government.
As stated by Ellen Sandell, Victorian Greens Spokesperson for Environment:
“The Government has allowed rogue operators to dump toxic waste and get away with illegal activity for far too long, and now Victoria is in a waste crisis, leaving communities in shock.
“West Footscray and Laverton residents deserve better. The Labor Government must fix this waste crisis, not continue to just wash their hands of it.”
