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.
EPA acknowledges the length of time it has taken to get to a decision point on this project, understands the community’s frustration in the delay, and thanks the community for the input and patience throughout the process.
The community has requested why a "dig and dump" proposal is not required for the Grano Street site as is planned for Castlemaine. EPA has spoken with SPI Networks (Gas) Pty Ltd (SPI), and although a decision has not yet been made, SPI have informed EPA that a dig and dump option would cost millions of dollars and will present a larger risk to the community from odour and dust than would a bioremediation process on-site.
In relation to the Castlemaine site, a dig and dump was always proposed for this site due to the physical constraints on the site and a significantly smaller volume of soil requiring treatment. A bioremediation treatment process was proposed to occur at another site, with the treated soil to be returned to the site. Following significant work with the council and community to identify a location for the bioremediation to occur, a site could not be found.