Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) CEO Nial Finegan and Northern Grampians Shire Council (council) CEO Michael Bailey have visited Used Tyre Recycling Company (UTRC) to view work at the site that will see Stawell’s tyre stockpile reduced.
Mr Finegan said the company had recommenced shredding tyres as required by an EPA notice.
“Under the notice the company must conduct a staged removal of tyres from its premises; the shredding of tyres will see the stockpile slowly whittled away,” Mr Finegan said.
Mr Finegan said UTRC was also required to reduce the risk of fire at the premises.
“To meet this requirement the company will have to install fire-fighting infrastructure measures and further segregate the large tyre stockpile into smaller piles,” Mr Finegan said.
Mr Finegan said tyre fires could cause major pollution of the atmosphere and were incredibly difficult to extinguish.
“Once ignited, they are very hard to extinguish and generate toxic smoke that could cause a health risk to the Stawell community and beyond,” Mr Finegan said.
“The work being undertaken by UTRC as required under EPA notice will slowly but surely reduce this potential environmental hazard waiting to happen.”
The company has also lodged a draft works approval application with EPA to install a pyrolysis plant to process/treat tyres at the site.
EPA, in conjunction with other government agencies such as the Country Fire Authority, council and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, continue to work with UTRC in order to reduce the fire risk at the premises and ensure that any future operations at the premises meet required Victorian legislation and standards.