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CICCC Update — 19 May 2005 Meeting
Progressive demolition of Terminals’ East Side Facility
Demolition of the tanks, pipe-work and other structures on the east side of Mackenzie Road has commenced this week, as Terminals Pty Ltd continue their consolidation on the west side of Mackenzie Road. Peter Egberts, of ERM, told the meeting about the ongoing clean-up of the site, which involves the testing and removal of a considerable quantity of contaminated soil from the site, and its replacement with clean fill. The cost of the work is being shared by Terminals and the State Government.
The contaminated soil will be trucked to the SITA Lyndhurst land fill under strict supervision, and an EPA accredited auditor must approve every step taken in the clean-up. Terminals’ State Manager, Carlo Fasolino told the meeting that the site was due to be handed over to P&O Ports by the end of January 2006, with the final sign-off by the auditor by April 2006.
Port Planning
The proposal for redevelopment at 99 Moreland Street has been withdrawn in favour of a new site near the railway line, with the result that the Advisory Committee set up by the Minister for Planning did not continue to Hearings. The focus is now back on the Port of Melbourne Authority’s Draft Port Environs Plan. The CICCC expressed dismay at the steady encroachment of public access along the Maribyrnong River, and a small working group of Bro Sheffield-Brotherton and Ian Thomas will prepare a report on the Draft Port Environs Plan at the next meeting.
Chlorinated hydrocarbon plume
Quentin Cooke from EPA advised the Committee that the newly discovered contaminated groundwater plume lay between Terminals’ two west side sites and the Maribyrnong River. Terminals had commissioned EMR to investigate the plume, and it appears that it is a very old, stable plume, which is not likely to have anything to do with Terminals’ operations. Discussions are now proceeding with Pacific Terminals and the Port of Melbourne Authority as to who is responsible for it.
Terminal’s 2nd EIP 2005—2008
Carlo provided brief presentations on three more items in the 2nd EIP (Emergency Lighting, Groundwater Protection and Combustion System Heat Recovery). Theo Pykoulas, the representative of the City of Maribyrnong, suggested that a commitment to a community leaflet be added to the draft EIP. With this addition, the Committee expressed its satisfaction for the 2nd EIP to be finalised between Terminals and EPA. Carlo undertook to amalgamate the remaining items in the Improvement Action Report associated with the old EIP with the commitments in the new EIP.
Annual Environment/Improvement Report for 2004
Quentin advised the Committee that EPA has received Terminals’ Annual Improvement Report for 2004, a requirement of the Licence. The report will be presented to the committee at the next meeting, and will be placed on the CICCC web site.
Next meeting of the CICCC
The next meeting of the CICCC will be held on Thursday 4 August 2005 at the Maribyrnong Town Hall on the corner of Hyde and Napier Streets, Footscray at 6.30 pm. At 4:30 pm, prior to the meeting, the Committee will visit the Terminals facility. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting and site visit.
Robin Saunders, Chair CICCC, 26 May 2005