Published: 20 October 2019
Victoria’s environmental and dangerous goods watchdogs are demanding the owners and occupiers of last year’s Tottenham fire site clean up the property.
EPA and Worksafe have issued notices demanding the duty holders remove waste and chemicals from the site, contain any run-off, and render any residual dangerous goods harmless.
All demolition work must comply with construction and asbestos regulations.
The clean up must be completed by August 2020.
EPA’s onsite investigations to date show there are still aerosols, solvents and paint residues on site. Of an estimated 7-15 million cubic metres of waste to be cleaned up, around 7-10 million litres are estimated to be residual chemicals, including dangerous goods.
WorkSafe and EPA continue to work closely with all other relevant authorities in regulating the clean up. Community safety and protection of Stony Creek remains the priority. Security is in place at the site.
The owner is required to provide a clean up plan by February 2020 to meet the August 2020 clean up deadline.
EPA continues to conduct regular environmental monitoring and work closely with Melbourne Water, Maribyrnong Council and the local community on the restoration and rehabilitation of Stony Creek. EPA has provided $750,000 towards implementation of the recently released Stony Creek rehabilitation plan.
Both agencies are pursuing regulatory investigations and will hold those responsible to account with the full force of the law.. However, Government stands ready to step in, if the duty holder fails to fulfil its obligations to clean up the site. Further comment on these investigations is therefore not possible.