Legal stand-off over Lara’s rubbish mountain as fire danger looms

A company responsible for a “fire risk” rubbish pile at Lara has appealed clean-up orders, according to the state’s environmental watchdog.
C&D Recycling and authorities remained locked in legal battle at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) this week as the region headed into another fire-danger weekend, a statement from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) revealed.
The EPA exposed the stand-off after fining C&D $7929 for stockpiling excess waste at the company’s Broderick Rd site.
Water bombers drenched flames at the premises a fortnight ago despite authorities warning since November that the pile, in some places around nine metres high, was a fire risk and a public safety threat.
City Hall and the EPA have both sought a clean-up of C&D’s site but the company’s VCAT appeal has stalled progress.
City Hall initially secured VCAT interim enforcement orders “requiring that the duty holder immediately cease accepting any kind of waste at the premises,” said the EPA’s Carolyn Francis said.
“EPA had also issued the site with a statutory notice that required it to cease accepting waste until it can display that it can be compliant with the Victorian Government’s interim waste management policy, introduced in the wake of the Coolaroo fire in Melbourne.
“Unfortunately, the duty holder has appealed this notice to VCAT, which means that we need to wait until VCAT makes a determination before the requirements come into effect.
“EPA will continue to work with council and others to ensure the duty holder acts to reduce the fire risk posed by the site.”
The $7929 penalty was for depositing additional construction and demolition waste beyond a permitted on-site area, Ms Francis said.
The excess waste, measuring around 5000 cubic metres, included timber, plastics, metal polystyrene and plasterboard.
“This is an offence under the Environment Protection Act 1970, which is why EPA has issued C&D Recycling with a fine of $7929,” Ms Francis said.
She labelled the “inappropriate stockpiling” an “unacceptable fire risk”.
“EPA, Country Fire Authority (CFA) and City of Greater Geelong Council have been working together for some time to ensure the Lara site has effective fire prevention and control arrangements. (The) fine is just one step in that process.
“EPA has been very clear with the duty holder on how this site needs to be managed and will continue to work with council and others to ensure the duty holder meets its obligations.”
In the wake of last year’s SMK fire the State Government set up a taskforce targeting waste recovery sites and also “strengthened” the EPA with a policy to improve safety standards at the facilities.
The taskforce had so far conducted 88 inspections on 73 sites and issued 37 statutory notices, the EPA said.