Update Monday 31 Dec 2018
Security staff continue to patrol several sites involved in the illegal storage of chemical waste in Epping and Campbellfield, discovered during a joint agency investigation on Friday 28 December 2018.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) mobile air quality monitoring is in place in Epping and Campbellfield as a precautionary measure to assure the protection of local communities.
EPA, Hume City Council and Whittlesea Council are engaging with local stakeholders, service providers and industry to build local understanding of the issue. EPA will contact businesses in close proximity to the sites as they return to work following the New Year.
The waste is contained and there is no immediate risk to the community.
BACKGROUND
Around the clock security remains on the site of Friday’s discovery of illegally stored chemical waste in Devon Ct, Epping, and at three sites in Campbellfield.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is part of an inter-agency working group assessing the situation and preparing staged risk reduction actions at the sites.
Hume and Whittlesea Councils, EPA, WorkSafe and a range of other local and state based agencies are working in partnership to secure and monitor the site, engage local stakeholders and commence a process to reduce risks at the site over the coming weeks.
The waste was discovered during targeted inspections of industrial sites by EPA, fire agencies, Victoria Police and WorkSafe.
The inspections were the result of EPA’s investigative work following leads in the wake of the West Footscray warehouse fire in August.
The inspections detected concerning amounts of liquid chemical waste stored within warehouses at several sites.
EPA will not be commenting further on the ongoing investigation, but will continue providing updates on the management of the sites, and contacting the local community, businesses and other key stakeholders in proximity to the sites.
All of the agencies are working closely together in a whole of government response, placing priority on preventing harm to the community and the environment from pollution and waste.