Tara Murray
Brimbank council is calling on the Environment Protection Authority to launch an investigation and audit of all EPA-licensed facilities in the municipality.
The council wants the EPA to look at the compliance of companies with EPA conditions of operation and operating standards, with a particular focus on odour, unpleasant emissions and noise.
It also wants the community to be informed of the results of the investigation at a community forum.
Cr Virginia Tachos raised a motion at last week’s council meeting, stating ongoing odour and noise issues from local businesses were a daily occurrence for residents.
She said it was time the EPA took a robust look at all the licensed sites in the city.
“There is often one name that keeps appearing in advice I receive about the issue… the site is operating under an EPA licence,” she said.
“Over a number of weeks and months now, community members have raised the issue of noise and smell impacting their lives across Brimbank.
“Whether it is the unbearable odour from the ongoing fire at the Kealba landfill, putrid small associated with the processing of animals and animal products in Brooklyn, odour from putrescible waste being processed, or noise from the industry.
“How is it that EPA-licensed sites can continue to have such an ongoing detrimental impact on the daily lives of our residents?”
Cr Tachos questioned how the state’s EPA can be failing to protect the community after repeated calls to action.
She said it was time for the EPA to rebuild confidence in the community by doing its job.
“I call on the EPA to engage in a meaningful way with our community, to hear their concerns, to understand the impacts and to act on those concerns as they are charged to do.”
Deputy mayor Jasmine Nguyen said while she hadn’t been on council for very long, she’s quickly released how big this issue is.
“I’ve been contacted by so many people who are concerned about the odour issues.
“It’s a call for real action.”
The council will also write to neighbouring Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay councils seeking their support of an investigation and audit of EPA-licensed sites in Brimbank.
