People urged to get medical checks amid claims of asbestos at Bulla Tip and Quarry

PEOPLE in Melbourne’s north west are being urged to undergo medical checks amid claims of asbestos mishandling at a nearby tip.

Bulla tip north of Melbourne. The tip has links with underworld financial advisor Tom Karras.

A COUNCILLOR is urging people to undergo medical checks amid claims of asbestos mishandling at a tip in Melbourne’s north west.

Hume councillor Jack Medcraft has called for those who live near, drive past or work at Bulla Tip and Quarry to visit a doctor after video emerged on a current affairs program of what is believed to be bags of asbestos being shattered by an excavator at the Sunbury Rd site.

“I was horrified (of the vision),” Cr Medcraft said.

“You only need one spore to give you asbestosis.

“The way they were treating those bags, banging them down and smashing them up … that is not how you do it.”

Sunbury man Steve Coughlan, who regularly drives past the tip, said he was “flabbergasted” by the video.

“The symptoms of asbestosis and mesothelioma may take years to come out,” he said.

“We have people, tens of thousands of people a week, that would drive past that tip.

“You can’t overreact when it comes to asbestos.”

Mr Coughlan said he was advised by WorkSafe to see a GP if he had health concerns.

RELATED: VCAT grants Bulla tip eight-year lifeline amid calls to shut it down

Hume councillor Jack Medcraft has called for those who live near, drive past or work at Bulla Tip and Quarry to visit a doctor amid claims of asbestos at the site.

The advice was echoed by Asbestoswise vice-president Lawrie O’Shea, who said a doctor would be best placed to refer people on for further tests.

The allegations of asbestos mishandling come less than two months after tip operators BTQ Group were granted an eight-year extension on their permit by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Hume Mayor Adem Atmaca said the council, who expressed disappointment over the extension at the time, expected the Environment Protection Authority to use their “full powers” to address the issue.

EPA regional services executive director Damian Wells said the tip’s licence enabled them to dispose of asbestos, but it must be double wrapped in plastic and immediately covered with 300mm of soil when deposited.

He said site inspections undertaken last month following the claims hadn’t found evidence of noncompliance, although fines had been issued to the operators in the past for some matters, including asbestos mismanagement in 2011.

“Wherever there’s a community living nearby I certainly understand that they want to see operators held to account for their community and environmental obligations,” Mr Wells said.

He said they would continue to monitor the site and review the operator’s licence to ensure it reflected “modern expectations” and urged anyone with concerns to phone 1300 EPA VIC.

BTQ Group did not respond to the Leader’s multiple requests for comment.