Update Thursday 3 January 2019
The investigation into the chemical storage sites discovered in Epping and Campbellfield is continuing.
A 24-hour security presence will remain in place to protect the sites from potential tampering and to provide early warning of any issues particularly in Friday’s forecast heat.
"We are ensuring ongoing monitoring to maintain a high degree of safety and Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) officers will continue to contact and liaise with local businesses neighbouring the sites to keep them informed of the issues involved," said EPA Acting CEO Damian Wells
The sites were identified last Friday Friday (28 December 2018) following an investigation into the West Footscray industrial fire of August 2018. The sites contain a significant number of containers including 1,000 litre Intermediate Bulk Containers -IBCs - and 200 litre drums.
"Establishing what is in the containers, quantities and how best to manage its disposal is likely to take many weeks, but EPA and all agencies, including Worksafe, the fire agencies, Hume and Whittlesea Councils are focused on finding the best solution," said Mr Wells.
"While the investigation continues EPA is necessarily guarded about releasing information for legal and security reasons, but will ensure direct contact with local stakeholders. .
"The chemical stores are contained within the sites however we will continue to monitor and assess risk with detailed inspections intended to commence following the development of safe work methods to do so".
EPA has deployed mobile air quality monitoring as a precautionary measure. EPA and Worksafe are engaging with local businesses to ensure there is an understanding the ongoing work of all agencies
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.