Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has this month fined the City of Boroondara more than $7500 for breaching a condition of its licence to control gas emission levels at the Clayton Regional Landfill site.
EPA officers visited the site in May after receiving calls from members of the public complaining of offensive odour.
EPA’s inspection found that gas emission levels exceeded EPA’s best practice guidelines and were in breach of the site’s licence conditions and section 27(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1970.
While the landfill site is owned by five councils, the City of Boroondara is lead owner and was subsequently issued with the $7584 fine on 8 September 2015.
“These gas emission exceedance levels were the likely cause of the odour complaints,” EPA Southern Metro Manager, Leigh Bryant said.
“In addition to the fine, EPA issued the council with three Pollution Abatement Notices requiring it implement measures to manage landfill gas levels.
“EPA has focussed on ensuring the landfill operators address gas management issues that can cause odour and that the site complies with the best practice environmental guidelines. These guidelines are in place to protect the community and the environment.
“Since 2011, EPA has issued 29 improvement notices to multiple sites in the area and has issued nine fines totalling approximately $63,000, which has resulted in significant improvement in the operations in the area.
“EPA has a long history working with landfill site operators across the Clayton Dingley area and we will continue to hold operators to account if compliance is not being achieved.
“We encourage the community to continue reporting odour issues to EPA – local residents are our eyes and, in this case, our noses on the ground,” he said.
Mr Bryant said EPA also remained committed to engaging with the local community on environmental matters relating to the Clayton Dingley landfill precinct.
“We encourage members of the community to attend the next Clayton and Dingley Waste forum, facilitated by the local waste operators,” Mr Bryant said.
“Residents will be able to offer feedback directly to the operators, receive updates on the latest activities in the area and raise any questions or concerns they may have.”
- The next public waste forum is on Tuesday, 20 October 2015 at 6pm at ‘Balook’ Learning Centre, Westall Secondary College, 88 Rosebank Ave, Clayton South.
“EPA urges members of the public to continue reporting suspected pollution to the EPA on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or through its website, www.epa.vic.gov.au,” Mr Bryant said.
For further information, please visit: http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/current-issues/landfills/clayton-south-clarinda-dingley-village-odours