As required by the Environment Protection Act 1970, Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has considered an application from Energy Brix Australia Corporation Pty Ltd (EBAC) to construct an asbestos landfill facility on the site of the old Morwell power station.
EPA has assessed the application and found it to be compliant with all relevant statutory requirements including the Environment Protection Act 1970 and state environment protection policies.
The power station, at 412 Commercial Road, Morwell, has been inactive since 2014. EBAC is preparing the site for sale which will include the demolition of the old buildings generating approximately 10,000 m3 of friable (Class A) and non-friable/bonded (Class B) asbestos containing material (ACM) including lagging, sheeting, refractories and asbestos gasket contaminated steel. The bulk of the ACM is expected to be asbestos cement sheeting.
As part of the application, EBAC has confirmed it will only accept ACM from the demolished power station, no waste from external sources would be accepted and the maximum operating life of the landfill site would be two years.
“EPA carefully considered the many factors involved in such an application, including working with Worksafe and other regulatory agencies, before approving the application,” said EPA Executive Director of Assessment Tim Eaton.
“This included how EBAC will manage the safe handling, storage, management and final containment of the ACM in the landfill to protect the environment and human health.”
To view the company's application and EPA's decision, please visit: https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/licences-and-approvals/public-participation/featured-applications/energy-brix-ltd