Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has received a report from the City of Ballarat regarding the former Black Hill Landfill, now known as the Chisholm Street Recreation Reserve, as required by EPA notice.
EPA South West Manager Carolyn Francis said the report confirms waste is present in some areas outside of what was understood to be the historical landfill boundary; however, the report said the waste did not pose imminent risk to human health or the environment.
“EPA is reviewing the report to ensure it meets the notice requirements. EPA is likely to issue the City of Ballarat with further statutory notices that require management of waste outside the boundary of the former landfill,” Ms Francis said.
Ms Francis said the report was a requirement of a notice issued to the council in June 2016 following concerns from a local resident the legacy waste from the former landfill was buried beneath his property.
“The notice was issued by EPA after historic aerial photographs and sampling undertaken from nearby residential land indicated that waste was likely to have extended beyond what was thought to have been the boundary of the landfill that operated between 1978 and 1982,” Ms Francis said.
The report was provided to EPA on 30 November 2016 within the required timeframe of the notice.