A maintained vigilance on landfill operations in Clayton South has this week
seen the issue of a raft of new notices requiring works in the millions.
EPA Victoria has issued a total of six notices to four landfill sites owned by
Transpacific Industries Group Ltd (TPI) in the Clayton South and Clarinda areas.
The notices require a range of measures that include the implementation of new
infrastructure to control, treat and dispose of leachate (odorous wastewater)
and the progressive rehabilitation of old landfill cells.
EPA’s Southern Metro Manager Bronwyn Green said the latest round of notices
followed extensive investigation by EPA and discussions with the company around
the works required at each of the four sites.
“Each notice will require major financial investment in infrastructure to
address issues contributing to the odour problem in Clayton South,” Ms Green
said.
“Operators in this region are being forced to address the issue now after a
lack of infrastructure planning over many years.”
Odour complaints in Clayton South, Clarinda and Dingley skyrocketed last year
and have continued into 2012. This has meant EPA has spent a significant amount
of time and resources to ensure companies undertake the necessary works to
alleviate odour and amenity issues.
Ms Green said in July, EPA presented to the Clayton and Dingley Landfill Forum
its priorities for addressing this issue in the long and short term.
“The bulk of notices being issued to companies in the area at the moment are to
implement ‘remedies’ or fixes to address the long term issues," Ms Green said.
“Concurrently, companies will be held to account if they fail to address the
fundamentals of landfilling and protecting the environment which include dust
management, daily cover requirements and litter prevention.
“EPA will continue to focus on licence and landfilling best practice
requirements with the support of Kingston City Council who is addressing some
of the amenity issues that can be enforced through council permits.
“It is vitally important we maximise our resources between EPA and Council to
address this issue for the community.”