More dangerous chemical stockpiles found in wake of West Footscray factory fire

Safety authorities investigating chemical stockpiles in Melbourne’s north have discovered more illegal storage sites with materials similar to those believed to have contributed to the now notorious West Footscray blaze.

More illegal chemical stockpiles have been uncovered in the wake of the infamous West Footscray warehouse fire sparking a fresh probe.

Government agencies have this year been watching sites in Campbellfield and Epping for months after finding multiple storage sites in January for dangerous chemicals involved in the weeks-long industrial blaze from August 2018.

The sheer scale of the chemicals found has only allowed three of the eight factories to taken from two sites in Epping and one in Campbellfield.

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The Environment Protection Authority Victoria investigation also ongoing and the Sunday Herald Sun understand charges are looming under the Environment Protection Act 1970.

An inspection on Friday at another Campbellfield site uncovered more factory stockpiles of the toxins, with 24 hour security and air monitoring put in place.

The latest discovery comes just a week after WorkSafe, which is leading the investigation, found chemicals stored in containers at another three sites in Craigieburn.

Similar materials were believed to have contributed to the notorious West Footscray blaze that blanketed the city in black smoke that could be seen from Geelong and which shut schools and businesses.

WorkSafe spokesman Peter Mickelburough said the removal at the sites was containing.

“Once containers are unstacked, they are classified for transport and moved off site using trucks designed to safely transport drums and containers of dangerous goods,” he said.

“The operation remains complex and is expected to take some months. Security and air monitoring remain at all sites.”

The toxic factories discovered in January littered with illegal chemicals in Epping and Campbellfield are linked to Graham White who had the lease for the West Footscray factory when the fire broke out.

Mr White also had a lucrative national contract with BOC to restore gas bottles past their 10-year expiry date.

The company has launched its own investigation into his handling of the outdated gas bottles.

Despite no deaths, it was announced late last year, there will be a coronial inquest into the West Footscray fire which spewed toxic fumes across more than a dozen suburbs including Port Melbourne and Altona.