Tara Murray
Brimbank and Melton council’s have voiced their frustrations at Cleanaway’s plan to accept asbestos at its Ravenhall site.
As reported by Star Weekly, Cleanaway wants to accept asbestos at the Melbourne Regional Landfill in Ravenhall.
The company is seeking approval from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to amend its licence to permit the receival and disposal of asbestos waste at the site.
The site falls in the Melton council area and borders Brimbank.
Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic said for far too long Melbourne’s west and particularly Brimbank, has borne the brunt of absorbing the state’s waste, contamination, pollution, landfill and traffic needs.
“Brimbank’s transforming Brimbank environmental equity agenda advocates for a region wide approach to addressing environmental equity issues and improving sustainability outcomes,” she said.
“Expanding and intensifying landfill and waste storage activities across the west would affect the health and wellbeing of our community and the local environment.
“It would also undermine council’s and the community’s efforts to help restore environmental equity for our region as we work to improve health, wellbeing and socio-economic outcomes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Melton council had taken legal action over plans to dispose of toxic soil from the West Gate Tunnel project at the Ravenhall site. Ultimately, Bulla was chosen as the location for that soil.
Melton mayor Goran Kesic said council had only recently been made aware of Cleanaway’s proposal for asbestos disposal at Melbourne Regional Landfill.
“We’re extremely disappointed that Cleanaway is again proposing to dump more toxic waste at this site,” he said.
“While our priority is always to advocate for the best outcome for our community, unfortunately council does not have any decision-making powers on this matter, and the approvals process will be managed by the EPA.
“We strongly hope that the EPA will assess this application rigorously. It is critically important that the EPA thoroughly scrutinises the safety of Cleanaway’s plans for possible transportation and treatment of asbestos.
“Ravenhall is not an appropriate location to dump and process any toxic materials, nor is any area where families live and work.”
