Background to Ararat Gasworks site
SPI Networks (Gas) Pty Ltd (SPI) owns a number of old gasworks sites throughout Victoria. SPI have been undertaking a clean-up program for these sites, which were contaminated through the operations of producing town gas many years ago.
SPI proposed to EPA and the community that the site at Grano Street, Ararat, be cleaned up via an onsite bioremediation treatment process. The process will include the use of a tent and a sophisticated carbon filtration system for part of the process to minimise the risk of odour and dust emissions from the premises. The proposed process is documented in a Remediation Action Plan (RAP).
EPA's focus on remediation of this site is for the long term benefit of the community.
- Download the summary of the Remediation Action Plan (RAP) (Adobe PDF file, 384KB)
- Download the Remediation Action Plan (RAP) (Adobe PDF 2065KB)
- Download the Clean Up Notice issued to SPI Networks (Adobe PDF file, 341KB)
- Download the Ararat Gasworks Site Remediation Environmental Audit (Adobe PDF 2,494KB)
Update 17 August 2007
Update on the progress of the Ararat Gasworks site Cleanup. This page includes proposed timeframe for the clean up process.
Assessment of the SPI proposal for clean up
EPA required SPI to have the RAP independently audited by a Statutory Environmental Auditor to ensure that the clean up process will not result in detrimental impacts on the environment.
Why has the planning process taken so long
The clean up of contaminated land is not a simple process. To identify and evaluate the risks to both the community and the organisation undertaking the clean up takes time, and part of the time to date has been to identify and assess these risks.
What about current odour issues?
EPA has received a number of reports from the community in regard to odour from the site and the current level of cover on the stockpiles.
How will EPA communicate with the community in the future?
EPA will continue to provide information updates to the community.
Questions and Answers from the March 2007 Community Meeting
EPA at the last community meeting in March 2007 promised the community to provide a response to a number of questions in relation to the proposed clean up.