A proposal to treat contaminated soil in Bulla has been submitted to Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and residents have until Monday 9 July to have their say.
Australian Recycling Corporation (ARC) wants to build a soil washing facility at its site at 500 Sunbury Rd. Hours of operation would be 7am to 5pm weekdays, and 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sundays.
Its 39-page application outlines plans to treat up to 250,000 tonnes of “low-level” Category C contaminated soil annually.
Category C soil is not immediately dangerous like category A, but precautions are required to prevent long-term exposure or environmental release. Government documents state category C soil may contain moderate levels of contaminants such as heavy metals (e.g. lead, arsenic), hydrocarbons, or industrial chemicals, which can be harmful over time.
ARC’s objective is to recover clean sand and aggregates from contaminated soil for use in construction or landscaping, using particle separation and water-based treatment.
According to the application, the proposed plant, would operate within an already approved landfill area.
The proposed soil washing site is located within the firm’s waste management facility, and although zoned as Green Wedge under the Hume Planning Scheme (a legal document outlining rules and regulations for land use and development within the city), the area used by ARC was granted a planning permit for a private rubbish tip by the council in 2020 (the licence expires in 2033).
The site currently has two notice from the EPA, including one requiring ARC to move stockpiled waste.
ARC claims its proposal aligns with the EPA’s circular economy principles and Victoria’s Waste to Resources policy.
The firm’s application notes the presence of surrounding sensitive land uses, including residential properties, agricultural land, and waterways such as Jacksons Creek.
Its air quality assessment found the proposed facility would comply with state standards for dust and emissions. Its noise assessment concluded operational sound levels would not exceed EPA guidelines. And its traffic modelling predicts existing road infrastructure could handle the expected increase in vehicle volumes, with no major upgrades required.
The firm’s document covering water treatment has been blacked out.
The company also included a risk assessment under the General Environmental Duty (GED), evaluating potential harm from chemicals, dust emissions, and groundwater contamination. The assessment determined these risks could be mitigated through design controls, monitoring systems, and staff training.
The EPA will consider the application and all submitted assessments before making a determination. Residents have the opportunity to review the application and provide feedback via the EPA’s Engage Victoria platform – click here to have your say.
ARC’s proposal follows that of HiQ which also has plans for a soil washing facility at its site in Sunbury Rd. See this page for our reports on HiQ’s proposals. HiQ was previously known as Hi-Quality.
