City of Melton Mayor Cr Lara Carli and Brimbank City Council Mayor Georgina Papafotiou have voiced their concerns over how contaminated West Gate Tunnel soil might be managed, following news of two recent breaches at the Ravenhall landfill.
“Having recently launched a campaign against Cleanaway’s proposal to dump contaminated West Gate Tunnel soil in our area, we are deeply concerned to learn that Cleanaway subsidiary Landfill Operations has been fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for two breaches at its Ravenhall site,” Cr Carli said.
The EPA has fined the operator for having too much exposed waste on the operating tip face, and for leaving too much waste exposed on the surface of the tip.
These two recent breaches add to another breach by the operator in November last year, when the EPA found that the surface area of exposed waste on the active tipping area was about two-and-a-half times the licensed limit.
Brimbank City Council Mayor Georgina Papafotiou:
“According to the EPA, the actions the landfill operator should have taken are basic requirements and are designed to protect the community and the environment from litter and odour.
“We are extremely concerned that large volumes of contaminated soil could potentially be dumped at a facility where basic requirements have been breached.”
City of Melton Mayor Cr Lara Carli:
“When it comes to contaminated soil, we shouldn’t have to wonder whether it will be handled safely and appropriately. It’s not a risk we’re willing to accept in an area where families live and work.
“This uncertainty is among the many reasons we launched our Stop the Soil campaign, asking the State Government and Transurban to reject Cleanaway’s proposal.”
