Liquidators have begun work to clean-up contaminated waste at ACB Group’s Derrimut factory site which was at the centre of two significant industrial blazes, including a fatal fire in 2023.
Since ACB Group entered into voluntary liquidation in December last year, SV Partners’ liquidator Matt Hudson and his team have been working with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), government agencies, and other stakeholders to wind up the company’s operations.
According to Mr Hudson, the site’s clean-up is the top priority.
EPA has issued two regulatory notices requiring the entities in control of the site — the company or the liquidator — to remove the fire impacted waste and ensure the waste does not impact the environment.
This includes the removal of any contaminated water.
Both notices also require controls to remain in place to ensure no contamination leaves the site.
On Friday, February 14, the federal court granted approval to the liquidators to use ACB Group’s funds for the clean-up.
When the company folded, it owed more than $5 million to creditors and Mr Hudson said the clean-up will put a dent in the amount creditors receive at the end of the process.
“We were mindful of the impact it would have on creditors’ dividends,” Mr Hudson said.
“But also if it wasn’t done then there would be significant risks associated with non-compliance of those EPA notices.”
EPA western metropolitan regional manager Jeremy Settle said his team were continuing regular inspections of the site, including unannounced visits, and was actively assessing any possible risk to human health and the environment.
“Issues around ACB Group and the July 2024 fire at Derrimut remain under investigation,” Mr Settle said.
On July 10 last year, an explosion at ACB Group’s chemical blending factory on Swann Drive sparked a major fire which engulfed parts of Melbourne’s west in thick smoke, and took about 180 firefighters to battle.
In 2023, another fire at the same factory led to the death of a worker and injured two others.
