At a community meeting held last night (6 Sept) Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) committed to continue monitoring air and water quality while Stony Creek returns to normal following last Thursday’s West Footscray industrial fire (30 August).
The meeting, held at Footscray Town Hall, heard from all the agencies involved in managing the emergency event; EPA, Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), DHHS, Victoria Police, Maribyrnong Shire Council.
EPA reiterated its advice to stay away from the creek especially for those with respiratory illnesses, avoid contact with the water and to ensure pets do not swim in the water or eat any dead fish or other wildlife they might come across.
The run off from water used to fight the fire and chemicals stored in the factory have been detrimental to the local environment, especially the creek water and its wildlife.
There were concerns that the pollution might flow into the bay, however, EPA has not observed any visual impacts on water quality between Williamstown and Brighton during daily monitoring. Samples have been sent and we are awaiting results, however, EPA and Parks Victoria officers conducted a transect of sampling across the bay in the wake of the West Footscray factory fire as part of the ongoing water and air monitoring program and the results show good water quality
“The terrible deaths of wildlife in the creek is because of the chemicals in the water,” said EPA Chief Environmental Scientist, Dr Andrea Hinwood.
“People should avoid contact with the water and stop their dogs swimming in the creek or eating dead fish.
“Don’t fish 5km up and downstream from the Stony Creek discharge point into the Yarra River, including the Warmies.
“Dead fish that have washed up in Port Phillip Bay have likely been swept along from the creek backwash by wind and currents.”
Dr Hinwood said measures had been in place to contain the fire water at the West Footscray factory site but due to the sheer volumes of water used – as much as 16,000 litres a minute at some points – run off had occurred.
The contaminated water is still being removed from the creek and with time, the creek will recover. EPA will continue to work with Melbourne Water and Maribyrnong Council to monitor the creek and the clean up.
Dr Hinwood said there were still reports of solvent-like odours from the creek.
“While not always indicative of harmful substances, odour can cause irritation to people who are particularly sensitive,” she said.
EPA INFORMATION STATIONS WILL BE OPERATING IN THE MARIBYRNONG AREA THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH UPDATES ON THE FIRE RECOVERY SITUATION – LOOK OUT FOR EPA STAFF AT STONY CREEK RESERVE, CRUICKSHANK PARK, ALTONA GATE SHOPPING CENTRE AND COLES, YARRAVILLE