Latrobe City Landfill Works Approval
Works approval for construction and operation of a landfill
On 1 February 2007, EPA received a works approval application for the construction and operation of a landfill from Latrobe City Council proposed to be located at Callignee South Road, Traralgon South. The application was advertised seeking public comment on 7 February 2007 and submissions closed on 7 March 2007.
Assessment of the application
EPA received over 40 submissions from the community and government agencies, in relation to the works approval application. Given the level of public interest EPA decided to hold a conference of interested parties under section 20B of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (the "Act"). The conference was independently chaired by Ms Toni Meek and, was held at the Traralgon South Community Hall on 20 March 2007.
The purpose of the conference was to;
- inform the community of the approval process and their opportunities to be involved in the process;
- identify key issues and information, and ensure EPA understands all issues and has all relevant information;
- attempt to resolve issues.
The conference chair prepared a report (Adobe PDF 78KB) identifying eight recommendations for consideration by EPA. (See below)
Authority decision process:
A decision on the Latrobe City’s application for Works Approval to establish a land fill at Callignee South is due in early June, 2007. The Authority will consider the report and recommendations of the conference chair in the decision.
Following the decision by the Authority:
Conference attendees, and those who provided written comments on the application, will be notified of the decision of the Authority.
Any approval documents issued will be posted on the EPA website.
For further information please contact EPA Gippsland on 51739800, email epa.gippsland@epa.vic.gov.au and located at 7 Church Street, Traralgon 3844.
Recommendations of the Conference Chair
In considering Works Approval application, the Conference Chair has recommended that:
- EPA provides clarification in its determination about how Latrobe City Council’s landfill application conforms with the Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group’s priorities and directions
- EPA ensures its own communication about the Works Approval decision and the basis for it is as clear and transparent as possible and is widely communicated
- EPA evaluate the adequacy or otherwise of the data that has been presented with reference to areas the community has concerns about prior to making a determination
- EPA ensures any monitoring program developed is comprehensive and robust, and that monitoring results are regularly made available to the community
- EPA considers the request raised by the community for monitoring emissions of volatile organic compounds and information is provided that explains reasons for why/why not such monitoring is required
- EPA ensures management of the operations on the site do not compromise the environment, in particular eliminating the potential for leachate to contaminate surface water and groundwater
- EPA requires community consultative committee endorsement of the Environment Improvement Plan developed for the site
- EPA requires an expansion of the functions of the community consultative committee to provide regular communications to the wider community about the landfill operations in particular regular publication of monitoring results.