A plan to build a contaminated soil washing facility in Bulla has generated 167 objections during an EPA public consultation period.
A group of business owners, collectively known as The Australian Recycling Corporation, want permission to process up to 250,000 tonnes of soil a year, treating category C and D waste at its site at 500 Sunbury Rd.
- Category C soils are lightly contaminated and may include traces of asbestos, heavy metals, or other pollutants, but at levels that can usually be treated and made safe for reuse
- Category D is the lowest classification for reportable priority waste – typically containing low levels of contamination, possibly including small, non-friable (bonded) asbestos fragments
If given the green light, the facility would feature:
- Soil washing plant
- Water treatment plant
- Two excavators
- Two loaders
- Back-up generator
In all, 171 submissions were sent to the EPA, made up of 167 objections, one supported the project subject to conditions, and three supported it without conditions.
One Sunbury resident wrote to express their “strong objection and concern” about the continued transportation, processing, and storage of contaminated soil in such close proximity to the community.
“Contaminants are known to be highly mobile in water and can persist in the environment for decades, wrote the objector. Any failure of containment systems would pose unacceptable risks to Jacksons Creek, the Maribyrnong River system, and local groundwater.”
Increased truck movements along Sunbury Road and Calder Freeway were also highlighted, with concerns of increased traffic congestion, noise, and road safety concerns.
Other’s wrote:
- We have had enough unknown impacts to our suburb already
- These water intensive operations should not be located near to an important waterway such as Deep Creek and Emu creek. Water is life for all fauna, insects, flora, and people downstream
- The answer is simple, do not build the plant in our community
- I do not want this approved due to concerns with toxic pollution spread through the air when windy
- I do not believe that Hume or the EPA, or any government department, will have the capability to control whether this type of facility will adhere to proper practices
- Given the majority of trucks coming in will be coming through Bulla, I have serious concerns about long term structural integrity of the bridge in Bulla
EPA is expected to announced its decision later this year (24 December?). EPA link here.
Sunbury Life first reported on the plan in February 2024.
