Bulla tip site licence reinstated by VCAT; EPA to consider options
The infamous Bulla tip in Sunbury Rd has had its licence reinstated, but it won’t be reopening just yet. Here’s why.
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The infamous Bulla tip has had its licence reinstated, but it won’t be reopening just yet.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria ordered the BTQ Group Pty Ltd site at 500 Sunbury Rd to stop operating last year after concerns about exposed friable asbestos and litter beyond the boundaries.
An appeal to VCAT last week led to the authority ordering the licence be reinstated, but the operator won’t be able to receive waste until it fully complies with a clean-up notice and a pollution abatement notice issued by the EPA.
The tribunal said that given the circumstances of the current notice, it saw “no reason why the licence suspension is necessary”.
It also noted efforts to bring the site back into compliance.
“We also note that much of the recent documentation provided to the EPA is well advanced and demonstrates a willingness to bring the site into compliance,” they said.
It is understood soil at the site had been covered by 30cm of soil to reduce issues with uncovered asbestos and litter. However, there were still issues with excess waste outside licensed areas and asbestos in certain areas around the site.
Hume councillor Jack Medcraft described the BTQ landfill as “the most scrutinised place in the city of Hume”.
“They’ll be more scrutinised than ever before,” he said. “I’m glad to see there’s an opportunity to finally clean the place up and have it up to scratch, to allay the fears people have that it’s just a toxic dump.”
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EPA chief executive Cathy Wilkinson said BTQ sought a review of the suspension.
“Environment Protection Authority Victoria will consider its options following a VCAT decision last week,” she said. “BTQ is still unable to accept waste at the site until it can satisfy the terms of an EPA-issued clean up notice.”
BTQ did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
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