BTQ Group ordered to clean up Bulla tip

THE notorious Bulla tip, scorned by many Sunbury Rd commuters and neighbouring properties for its smell, has been barred from operating by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

THE notorious Bulla tip, scorned by many Sunbury Rd commuters and neighbouring properties for its smell, has been barred from operating by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

Operator BTQ Group Pty Ltd will cease landfilling operations at its Bulla landfill site, after the regulator claimed it had failed to satisfy concerns.

ASBESTOS FEARS AT TIP SITE

CALL FOR ENVIRNOMENTAL COURT OVER TIP CONCERNS

TIP PERMIT EXTENDED

“Suspending the licence of a landfill operator and forcing it to cease accepting waste, we hope, will provide the time required to bring its operation back into compliance and ensure its environmental obligations are met,” EPA chief executive Nial Finegan said.

“There have been multiple licence contraventions at the Bulla site including exposed friable asbestos, litter and dust beyond the boundary, multiple subsurface fires, uncovered waste, waste deposited beyond the site boundary and deep excavations within previously filled landfill cells which have culminated to present serious occupational safety issues, a human health risk to on-site workers and nearby community members and an environmental risk to nearby sensitive receptors and agricultural land uses.”

Mr Finegan said the latest action followed an EPA direction to BTQ to cease shredding and movement of waste containing identified asbestos fragments on March 13 this year.

“Waste management is an increasingly important issue and the community has the reasonable expectation that landfill sites will be properly operated within the terms of their licence and if they are not, that the regulator will use its powers to enforce compliance,” he said.

The move means BTQ must prove to EPA and other regulators it can operate the site in accordance with its license and environmental obligations.

EPA spokesman John Rees said there was no current health advice for nearby residents in relation to the tip.

BTQ is able to appeal the license suspension at the Victorian Civil and Adminis-trative Tribunal.