MEDIA RELEASE
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CICCC Update—12 October 2006 Meeting
Coode Island operations
George Horman, Terminals Pty Ltd Australian Manager, advised that there has been no further Pye Gas exports from Coode Island, following the trials. Huntsman Pty Ltd is investigating local use of this benzene rich gas. Storage of Pye Gas at Coode Island is expected to continue, whether the outcome favours local of overseas use.
Further bund drainage upgrading is in process, to eliminate underground drains and thus make inspection easier.
Ground contamination in a hot spot near the old vapour recovery plant on the boundary with Marstel has been found, and is to be cleaned up. Material will be removed from a new trench along the boundary. EPA is assessing the remediation technique proposed by Terminals.
Combustor or Incinerator?
Terminals Pty Ltd is investigating the use of the combustor to incinerate liquid wastes, at an estimated cost of $20,000. Liquid wastes (usually a combination of hydro-carbons and water) have, for some years, been sent by road tanker to a facility in Sydney. With the privatisation of that facility, and process changes to meet strict licence conditions, the cost for disposal has risen from 29 cents per litre to 59 cents per litre.
Community representatives noted that they had always had a concern that the ‘combusters’ were in fact hazardous waste incinerators. George responded “I said we wouldn’t use the combusters as incinerators, but I’m going back on that.”
The Coode Island Sewer saga
After ten years of government delay, City West Water has at last completed the construction of the Coode Island Sewer. When users are connected, and Trade Waste agreements finalised, its use by Coode Island tenants will make a significant improvement to the efficiency in managing the Coode Island environment.
EPA Act amendment
Quentin Cooke advised the Committee of a recent amendment to the Environment Protection Act, giving the Authority new powers, particularly with respect to seeking resource efficiency and the control of greenhouse gases. EPA will focus increasingly on large energy and water users (such as even the MCG and Chadstone Shopping Centre) to get improvements in GHG emissions and water usage.
Terminals’ organisational news
George announced that Jeff Hibbert, who was known and respected by the CICCC for his technical expertise, had resigned to join Marstel.
Next meeting of the CICCC
The next meeting of the CICCC will be held on Thursday 14 December 2006 at the Maribyrnong Town Hall on the corner of Hyde and Napier Streets, Footscray at 6.30 pm.
Robin Saunders, Chair CICCC, 30 October 2006