Kealba landfill hearing deferred

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The Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) criminal prosecution case against Barro Group and its directors, which was scheduled for court on April 15, has been adjourned to May 28.

The Barro Group was banned from operating its landfill site in Kealba early last year due to failures to address its odour problems.

The Barro Group has had its licence suspended since September, 2021, due to the landfill causing odour impacts locally.

The decision meant Barro could no longer accept waste at the landfill.

EPA Victoria said the decision to cancel the licence followed assessment of information Barro Group provided in response to a show cause notice issued by EPA on October 28, 2022.

As reported by Star Weekly, underground fires have been burning at the site for more than three years, with Barro missing several deadlines to put the fires out.

EPA Victoria said it continues to receive very few odour reports and did not detect any odour during its most recent inspection in March.

EPA Victoria said it will continue to inspect the site and provide these email updates monthly to keep you informed. We will also check in when to schedule the next community information session.

Residents are urged to use the EPA’s dedicated hotline for residents to report odour.

Phone EPA’s Contact Centre on 1300 372 842, press 2 then press 4.