Adopted Minutes
Thursday 19 July 2007
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PRESENT |
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Robin Saunders CICCC / Chairperson |
Tim Faragher Environment Protection |
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Bro Sheffield-Brotherton |
Scott Moloney Environment Protection |
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Ian Thomas Community Rep./Committee |
Carlo Fasolino State Manager Victoria, |
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Deborah Macfarlane Community Rep./Committee |
Peter LaRose |
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Theo Pykoulas City of Maribyrnong |
Paul Hayward |
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Faye Simpson Community Member |
Susan Chatterton Minute Taker |
ITEM 1. WELCOME
BY THE CHAIR, APOLOGIES & CONFIRMATION OF DRAFT
AGENDA
Robin Welcomed
Scott Maloney from the EPA to the meeting and all others in attendance.
Apologies George Horman, Geoff Millard
Confirmation
of draft agenda – adopted
ITEM 2. CONFIRMATION
DRAFT MINUTES FOR THE MEETING ON
17 MAY 2007 AND REVIEW ACTION ITEM LIST
Draft Minutes
Tim Referred
to Page 5 of the previous minutes as being incorrect where it was recorded
“Quentin had resigned” should have been “whilst Quentin is presently working on
other projects he will be returning in the near future”.
Minutes
adopted.
Action Items
02/06-6 Community
information and warning system. Action completed and responses received from
Office of the Premier of Victoria – Geoff Walsh (Chief of Staff), Colleen
Hartland MLC (State Member of Parliament for Western Metropolitan Region),
Martin Pakula MLC (Member for Western Metropolitan Region), and Marsha Tomson MP
(State Member for Footscray, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier).
All
appreciate and share our interests, the matter now rests with the Commonwealth.
Deborah Due
to the flooding in the Lakes Entrance district an early warning system is to be
put in place an automated system which will see people being called
individually.
Theo Felt
Deborah may have been confusing the information with the monitoring equipment that
is in place on rivers which is used to relevant authorities of impending flood.
This is similar to equipment used by Melbourne Water for Maribyrnong River to
give advanced warnings of river floods to other authorities including Council.
(After
the meeting Robin spoke to Joe Buffoni at the Office of the Emergency Services
Commissioner. Joe advised that an automated river gauging system will be
installed, which will enable advice on predicted flood heights to be telephoned
to the relevant authorities in time for them to take action.)
02/07-2 Carlo spoke
to Marstell – Ian Ross who has replaced Ron Dickenson, and the others at
the Users Group Meeting regarding community representation at their meetings
and they all said “no” to the request.
02/07-3 Greenhouse
gas emissions – first report included in the Operation Report for May-June
2007. Item completed.
05/07-1 IAR to be
made more specific —awaiting Carlo’s action.
05/07-2 Completed
05/07-3 Completed
05/07-4 Completed
05/07-5 Chemical
storage figures to be provided each March and September – No clients will
be included in report.
05/07-6 Paul
demonstrated the remote monitoring and control now available for the facility. Completed
05/07-7 Completed
05/07-8 Carlo
conducted presentation of chemical classification systems in Geoff’s absence.
Copy of presentation to be emailed to Robin
05/07-9 Carlo
conducted presentation of contour consequences in Geoff’s absence. Copy of
presentation to be emailed to Robin.
Faye Are
chemicals that are interactive with each other kept separate?
Carlo Yes.
Terminals refer to the Material Data Safety Sheets on each product to determine
which products can be stored in proximity to others.
Ian Felt
vapour modelling was not conducted correctly in the past. Not entirely sure what
the Risk Assessment looked at.
Carlo Terminals
do not store any product of any great volatility.
Robin Matter
should be referred to WorkSafe
Ian Felt
that would serve no purpose whether or not there is a risk of vapour explosion.
Just felt that as he had not conducted any studies with current storage
scenario whether WorkSafe had done so.
ACTION: Robin to contact WorkSafe to
seek their advice about the adequacy of the Terminals consequence contours, and
the potential for a flammable vapour cloud to explode.
ITEM 3. REPORTS
FROM AGENCIES AND TERMINALS
TERMINALS PTY
LTD
Paul Demonstrated
the new security system installed at Terminals on his lap top computer for all
to observe actual activity at the site.
Robin Thanked
Paul for his demonstration.
Peter Discussed
the Monthly Operations Report. The month preceding the end of financial year is
always a quiet month.
Paul Terminals
is looking at using waste heat generated from the
combustor to generate electricity therefore saving greenhouse gases.
Carlo Draw
the committees attention to the Planning Application currently before the
council with regard to the Cotton Mills development behind Lonely Planet.
MARIBYRNONG
COUNCIL
Theo Council’s
planning enforcement people have uncovered about 10 to 12 illegal dwellings in
the Cotton Mills site on Maribyrnong Street. One of them has now sought to
apply for a permit in the hope of changing the current illegal works.to have a
factoryette altered to residential. Port of Melbourne Corporation, Marstel are
putting in an objection to application. Currently going through the process and
will be interesting to see how far the application gets.
Robin Port
of Melbourne Corporation objection would be based on keeping residential zones
away from the port.
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY
Tim EPA
has had interaction with Terminals with regard to Planning Permit to remove 4
tanks and replace with 3 larger tanks. The product to be stored is Urea which
does not require a works approval. The only requirement is a slight
modification to the bunds.
ITEM 4. SCOTT
MALONEY TO BRIEF COMMITTEE ON OVERVIEW OF THE COPORATE
FOCUS AND OBJECTIVES OF EPA
Scott Went
through Powerpoint presentation:
EPA
Strategic Direction
· Environment Protection Act
· Pre 1970’s – rivers used as sewers
· EPA Act 1970 – Licenced discharge of waste,
development of policies and regulations and enforcement.
· Environmental challenge
· Structure
· New strategic direction released last year
· Four objectives
o Increase resource efficiency
o Reduce emissions impacts
o Enhance reputation
o Benefit the economy
· 2007/08 Business Planning
o Licensing reform
o Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans
o Prescribed industrial waste
o Greenhouse
o Relationships with Business, Government and Community
o Carbon Management Principles
o Measuring our GHG Footprint
o GHG Emissions Inventory
o Neutralising our inventory 2005-06 & beyond
Ian Does
the EPA recognise significance in growth in population. Is anything being done
or recommended about that?
Scott Certainly.
There are many more people with longer life expectancies, and population
increase is recognised as an important issue.
Licensing reform:
· What requires licences and what doesn’t
· Industry to submit resource efficiency plans
· Industry greenhouse program
· Prescribed waste will be part of program with a very
strong focus on this
Deborah Not
sure on what “prescribed waste” means
Scott Prescribed
waste is industrial waste for example:
· Paint sludge
· Contaminated soil
· Waste that has a particular hazardous level
Peter The
problem of waste disposal is an issue, waste having to be transported to
Sydney.
Bro Australian
destruction sites need to be built to stop waste being sent overseas.
Ian There
is no incinerator in Australia
Scott The
Tullamarine site closing for industrial waste 2009 and Lyndhurst is being
looked at as an alternative site in the possible future but only taking solid
sludge that has been treated before dumping.
Ian An
initiative by EPA to extend life of Lyndhurst by not permitting 44 gallon drums
being sent to landfill
Scott Drums
are to be cleaned out sufficiently to allow the drums to be dumped at landfill
Bro EPA
gradually increased its involvement with industry but needs to sort out how
they interact with community. Community being viewed as neighbours to
business. Community consultation treated as a derivative of business
consultation.
Scott EPA
looking into how they can consult more broadly with the community
Robin Queried
whether EPA would have the scientific resources to be a leader in Greenhouse
work.
Scott Doing
work in this area for many years. EPA is not talking about taking the
responsibility for fixing climate change but trying to make a difference in
greenhouse emissions.
Bro EPA
has put out many reports on greenhouse
Scott EPA
is looking to combine licences for businesses with multiple sites. Licences
dealing with both day to day issues as well as corporate decisions.
Deborah Was
there a revenue stream associated with licences?
Scott Revenue
stream would remain the same
Peter Waste
disposal costs increasing all the time.
Faye Assurance
needs to be looked at whereby the process cannot be manipulated – that
wastes cannot be disposed of in a way that should not be.
Scott There
will be no lowering of standards just more consistency within licences.
Obligations around minimum standards, monitoring, and reporting conditions.
All licence requirements would stay the same.
Faye Creating
pricing pressure, be careful not to make waste disposal a money strain.
Standardisation is required, a quality schedule needs to be formulated (how far
and wide applied), creating a pressure cooker situation.
Scott Need
to look at the entire package – not only the need to put resources into
enforcement of limits of licences. New treatment standard at land fills,
inspections, and recognise risks involved with increased standards. Internal
auditing, on the ground enforcement and reporting to community – information
being made publicly available.
Faye If
they do have a problem do you work with them to fix the problem?
Peter Yes
they do but a lot of industries fear EPA because of the fines they impose.
They are worried about being slapped with a fine. We get EPA out first before
making any changes to avoid that situation.
Faye If
the company doesn’t have a solution does EPA work with the company?
Scott EPA
works with the company to fix the problem
Tim Increases
in landfill charges are redirected into finding solutions for companies.
Bro Is
it possible to have the role of policeman and assisting role combined?
Robin Did
Bro feel WorkSafe combined both roles?
Bro WorkSafe
does not interact with community groups at all
Scott EPA
is trying to be more transparent with the broader community
Ian There
is a view that there is an incentive now for a truck to open valve whilst
driving along and let waste go on the road. EPA has phenomenal power now to
bring those responsible for spills to count.
Faye Personal
account – truck was continually spaying liquid on her car whilst she was
driving along. What could she of done?
Scott Record
observations such as number plate, time of incident, etc and then report to EPA
and action could then be taken.
Robin Thanked
Scott for very interesting presentation
ITEM 5. SAFETY
CASE BRIEFING BY GEOFF MILLARD
Covered in Action Items
ITEM 6. REVIEW
IAR AND EPA SIGN OFF
Deferred to next
meeting.
ITEM 7. OTHER
BUSINESS
None
MEETING CLOSED 9PM
NEXT SCHEDULE MEETINGS: 20th
September, 2007
Remaining Meeting date for 2007 on 22nd
November