By Esther Lauaki
A proposal to truck 15,000 cubic metres of hazardous waste across Melbourne to Bulla for disposal is the “worst scenario”, according to the Asbestos Council of Victoria.
Sunbury residents raised concerns earlier this month about a proposal to dump material at the Bulla tip, run by Hi-Quality Group, from the former Morwell power station.
An application by the former station’s liquidators, Energy Brix Australia Corporation, to bury asbestos on its own land was rejected by Latrobe council in May because the site was 135 metres from offices and 600 metres from houses.
Energy Brix remediation general manager Barry Dungey told
Star Weekly that Bulla was only one of the sites being considered.
But Hi-Quality Group divisional manager Lance Ingrams said that the organisation was not in talks with anyone about accepting waste from the old power station.
“We have not received any approaches from the Victorian government or from Energy Brix, to accept waste material from the old Morwell power station, whether asbestos waste or any other waste,” Mr Ingrams said.
“If any request is made, then we will consider it,” he said.
The Hi-Quality Group operation, which is licensed to accept asbestos, is separate to the now closed BTQ operated landfill site – both on Sunbury Road.
The facility is licensed to accept asbestos waste, complying with relevant guidelines and legislation. It accepted waste during the Black Saturday bushfires.
Asbestos Council of Victoria chief executive Vicki Hamilton is opposed to the proposal to truck asbestos across the state, saying it was the “worst scenario”.
“I just can’t get my head around thinking that’s a better option than keeping it on site,” Ms Hamilton said.
Hume mayor Geoff Porter said the discussions were premature and made “no sense”.
“These issues need to be resolved, and the appropriate permits for handling, transporting and disposing of asbestos must be met,” Cr Porter said.
“As such, any conjecture that the
Latrobe Valley’s demolition waste is coming
to a privately owned Bulla facility is
premature.”
