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CICCC Update – 3 February 2005 Meeting

 

99 Moreland St “Call In” and Port buffer planning controls

At its meeting on 3 February 2005, the Committee heard reports of the Advisory Committee Directions Hearing on 2 February, from the City of Maribyrnong, Terminals and community representative Deborah Macfarlane, The key process and timeframes outlined by the Advisory Committee are:

  • Draft Port Environs Plan – 11 February
  • Draft New Format Port Planning Scheme – 25 February
  • Second Directions Hearing – 3 March
  • Exchange of information between parties – 18 March
  • Advisory Committee hearings from 25 March for 3 weeks to 15 April
  • Advisory Committee reports to Minister by end of May 2005

The applicant is, apparently, in negotiation with the State Government about possible relocation of their project to the Footscray station precinct. The CICCC will access the Draft Port Environs Plan and the draft New Format Port Planning Scheme when they are available, and will discuss its further submission to the Advisory Committee at its next meeting on 3 February 2005.

Relinquishment of East Side leases

Previous progressive extensions of time for Terminals Pty Ltd to end of storage of bulk liquid chemicals on the east side of Mackenzie Road and for handover of the area to P&O Ports have been for periods totalling 21 months, to allow an orderly handover of storage responsibilities for some chemicals to the new Marstel facility. Terminals advised the Committee that a further extension of 5 weeks has been negotiated with government. “This is the final extension” said Terminals Managing Director, George Horman. “There will be no further extensions.”

George outlined the work ahead to remove contaminated soil from the east side, once demolition of Terminals tanks and other assets is complete.

Availability of foam to fight fires

Chris Watt, Executive Manager, Dangerous Goods Department, MFB, told the Committee about the availability of foam to fight fires. When all the various supplies available to MFB are totalled, almost 300,000 litres of foam concentrate is available. The concentrate is mixed with water, using a dilution factor of from 15 to 30, before being applied.

George reminded the meeting that all Terminals tanks have foam injection equipment, able to be activated from the fire system control room. George also stated that in a big fire that is too hot to get near, water deluging with sprays if used first.

Targets for the 2nd Environment Improvement Plan (EIP)

Carlo Fasolino, Terminals’ Victorian Manager, presented the second 4-year Environmental Improvement Plan. It continues many of the items in the first EIP, and covers:

  • Review of the effectiveness of the first EIP;
  • Clean up of the East Side;
  • Groundwater monitoring;
  • Continued tank upgrading on West Side;
  • Continued work on drainage on West Side;
  • Combuster heat recovery;
  • Truck filling arrangements;
  • Connecting remaining tanks to the new vapour recovery system.

Quentin Cooke mentioned that the Improvement Action Report initiated by the CICCC for the first EIP had been a useful way of keeping track of progress with the EIP commitments, and should be continued. George Horman will progressively detail new items in the Second EIP to the Committee at its next two meetings.

Agency representation

Chris Watt advised the CICCC that MFB would be represented in future by an officer from of its Western Region. The Committee thanked Chris for his contribution to the Committee over the last year.

Following the meeting, WorkSafe advised that its new representative will be Geoff Cooke.

Next meeting of the CICCC

The next meeting of the CICCC will be held on Thursday 3 March 2005 at the Maribyrnong Town Hall on the corner of Hyde and Napier Streets, Footscray at 6.30 pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. The Committee will continue to develop its submission to the Advisory Committee reviewing the Port buffer planning controls, and to review Terminals’ new draft Environment Improvement Plan.


Robin Saunders, Chair CICCC, 7 February 2005