Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued the City of Ballarat with a notice that requires it to detail exactly where waste extends beyond the boundary of its former Black Hill Landfill, now known as the Chisholm Street Recreation Reserve.
EPA Executive Director of Regional Services Damian Wells said the Black Hill Landfill, which operated between about 1978 and 1982, had been the subject of an EPA investigation since it was contacted by a local resident with concerns that surrounding land contained waste from historical landfilling activities.
“EPA has examined the history of the site and found that following the closure of the landfill it was rezoned as a public park and recreation zone, while adjacent land was zoned residential,” Mr Wells said.
“Of concern to EPA is that historic aerial photographs and sampling undertaken from residential land indicates that waste is likely to have extended beyond what was thought to have been the boundary of the landfill.”
Mr Wells said that EPA was not satisfied that Council has an adequate understanding of the extent of the landfill area on which to base a management plan for the site; meaning that current management actions at the site cannot be confirmed as adequate or appropriate.
“The City of Ballarat is now required to provide a full report to EPA by 30 November 2016 detailing the extent to which waste extends beyond the former Black Hill Landfill site,” Mr Wells said.
“If during its investigation any risks are found, council must immediately notify impacted or potentially impacted residents and take immediate steps to reduce these risks.”
EPA will determine whether any further investigations or actions are required at the site once the report is received.