By Esther Lauaki
Macedon Ranges council will monitor conditions at the closed Lancefield landfill site after it was fined nearly $8000 by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria for excessive leachate levels.
Reports on the Lancefield site found leachate – a liquid which leaches from landfill and may contain harmful substances and elevated concentrations of materials – had exceeded the legal level since January 2017.
The council had not completed extraction since May last year.
EPA north west regional manager Scott Pigdon said leachate occurred near Deep Creek and had the potential to affect groundwater.
“There are several groundwater bores in use down from the site, so we want this issue addressed as soon as possible,” Mr Pigdon said.
Macedon Ranges council assets and operations director Dale Thornton said a small quantity of leachate had leaked from the site but had been quickly identified and contained.
“The landfill was constructed by the former Shire of Romsey to the standards of the day, and it has been challenging bringing the site into line with modern requirements and standards,” Mr Thornton said. “We have been working closely with the EPA on this issue and are working to reduce leachate levels.”
EPA-approved monitoring equipment has been installed at the site to alert the council of any leachate level problems.
Residents with concerns about the closed landfill can contact the council on 5422 0333.
