Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) requires Iluka Resources to provide additional information on its works approval application to continue the disposal of waste by-products at its Douglas Mine site.
The formal request, made on 11 September under Section 22(1) of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (the Act), requires Iluka to provide additional information considered necessary and relevant by EPA to inform its determination of Iluka’s works approval application by 18 September.
EPA made the request after undertaking a technical review of the Iluka Resources application and considering the initial findings of an independent desktop review it commissioned. EPA also considered the expert views of specialist staff at referral agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, as well as an independent facilitator’s report summarising the outcomes of a Section 20B community conference held on 25 August.
Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) is responsible for the planning permit application. Iluka Resources has an existing radiation management licence from DHHS that covers the disposal of naturally occurring radioactive material.
EPA’s Manager, Development Assessments, Tim Faragher, said the Act required EPA to make a decision on works approval applications within four months of receiving a complete application. EPA received the Iluka application on 23 June.
‘However, EPA may ask for further information from the applicant during the process or require an extension of time to complete the assessment,’ Mr Faragher said.
‘If Iluka cannot provide the additional information by 18 September, EPA’s four-month assessment period will be suspended until the required information is received.
‘EPA will hold a meeting with Iluka, Horsham Rural City Council and DHHS to discuss the particulars of this request and the additional information provided will be considered as part of assessments of the applications.
‘The outcome of the detailed discussions will be agreed terms of reference confirming how Iluka will respond to the request, and this will be posted on EPA’s website.’
For further information on the timeline of the Iluka Resources works approval application, and when a final decision could be made, see
here.