Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) welcomes the final report from the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the CFA Fiskville Training College, released this week.
EPA Chief Executive Officer Nial Finegan said EPA was committed to working with other Victorian Government agencies to learn from Fiskville to better protect the community and to ensure emergency services workers were provided a safe environment to work and train in.
“EPA welcomes the final report into the former training college in Fiskville and thanks the Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee for its work on this significant issue,” Mr Finegan said.
“Some practices of the past were clearly not acceptable. While the report acknowledges that EPA’s practices have improved, EPA is committed to implementing any further changes needed to meet environmental challenges in line with community and government expectations.
“EPA acknowledges the contribution of the many witnesses to this Inquiry and will await the Victorian Government’s response to the report and its recommendations before making further comment.”
Announced by the Victorian Government in December 2014, the Inquiry examined practices at Fiskville from 1970 until its closure in 2015. The final report includes 125 findings and makes 31 recommendations.
EPA has now issued statutory clean-up notices to CFA for all Regional Training Centres, including Fiskville, under section 62A of the Environment Protection Act 1970.
The notices require CFA to develop environmental management plans, conduct environmental site assessments and report to EPA on progress and outcomes. This work is ongoing and is progressing in accordance with the timeframes set out in statutory notices.