A comprehensive EPA investigation into a Port Melbourne diesel leak has found
concerns at a local petrol station, leading to a number of notices issued to
the operator and site owner.
Station operator, Garden City Fuel Station has been issued with two notices to
take immediate action to prevent leakage from their petrol tanks to the
environment by August.
The site owner Shelco Pty Ltd has received two notices requiring they drain a
disused diesel tank and determine whether there is contamination in the soil or
groundwater at the site, actions to which the company has already committed.
EPA Director Environmental Regulation Chris Webb said operators of service
stations, site owners and suppliers have a role to play in mitigating and
preventing these events.
“While issues have been found at this site which will be remedied under notice,
EPAs investigation into then source of diesel contamination of stormwater in
the area will continue as we have not ruled out other sources,” Mr Webb said.
“While the companies have agreed to fix containment issues at this site,
companies must monitor, test and prevent these sorts of leaks so that
hydrocarbons such as petrol and diesel do not end up in our stormwater drains
and the bay.”
EPA began investigations into the source of diesel between The Boulevard and
Plumber Street, Port Melbourne after it received reports of odour in April.
Atmospheric testing found vapours were not at a level which could cause an
explosive risk. An air sample collected from a stormwater drain showed no
breach of air quality standards.
The catchment manager took precautionary measures to ensure that any present
diesel was contained – at this stage it is believed that small volumes of
diesel have entered the Bay.
Report pollution to EPA’s Pollution Hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).