Maribyrnong and Yarra Rivers environmental audit

The industrial precinct along Whitehall Street, Yarraville, has been impacted by significant contamination as a result of historical industrial activities and practices.

In 2006 the EPA engaged environmental auditor Dr Peter Nadebaum to assess the impact of this historical contamination on the river system. That audit found levels of contamination for a range of metals in sediment samples, consistent with those expected in a highly urbanised catchment.

The audit found concentration of contaminants, including arsenic in the river, to be lower than the guidance levels for protection of ecosystems and are not a concern for use of the river.

The audit had a number of key recommendations, which were and continue to be addressed by EPA and the companies concerned, as part of their individual notices and ongoing clean up works.

At the time of the audit, EPA established the Lower Maribyrnong Audit Reference Group (LMARG) to provide a link between the environmental auditor and the community. It had members from the community including river users, staff from Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay Councils, Parks Victoria and industrial land users with potential land and groundwater contamination issues. The group was chaired by Professor John Cary.

Whilst the LMARG is no longer active, interested parties or residents are able to attend the Whitehall Street Community Liaison Committee, which meets twice a year.

For contact details about this, please speak with

• Download the entire audit report (PDF 12238KB or 12.2MB)
  
• Download the executive summary (PDF 93KB)
• Download Chapters 1 – 6 information about industrial sites and activities (PDF 8372KB or 8.4MB)
• Download Chapters 7 – 14 information about river systems and risk assessment (PDF 1222KB or 1.2MB)
• Download Chapters 15 – 18 audit discussions, recommendations and conclusions. (PDF 236KB)
• Download Audit appendices. (PDF 3920KB or 3.9MB)

More about assessment and clean up of the Whitehall Street industrial precinct.

Download EPA Publication 1116 - Results for contamination investigations for the Yarra and Maribyrnong estuaries (PDF 277KB)

Environmental Audit Reference Group

To support the environmental audit of the lower Maribyrnong and Yarra Rivers, EPA established the Lower Maribyrnong Audit Reference Group (LMARG). The group includes representatives of:

• Community
• River users
• Industrial landusers with potential contaminated land and groundwater issues;
• Parks Victoria
• Local government (Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay).

Professor John Cary is the independent Chair of LMARG. Professor Cary is Director of Victoria University's Institute for Sustainability and Innovation. His main interests are in natural resource management, human and social behaviour related to natural resources use in food production; and consumer perceptions of food.

• Download the Terms of Reference for LMARG (PDF 44KB).

The role of the Reference Group is to provide:

• a link between the environmental auditor and the community;
• openness and accountability to the audit process; and
• advice in relation to community communication and information dissemination for local residents, interest groups and river users.

Interested members or groups in the local community who wish to learn more about LMARG can contact Gary Laidlaw, Community Relations West Metro Regional Services on 9695 2560.

• Download LMARG Meeting 1 - 6 October 2005 minutes (PDF 63KB)
• Download LMARG Meeting 2 - 1 December 2005 minutes (PDF 51KB)
• Download LMARG Meeting 3 - 23 February 2006 minutes (PDF 28KB)

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