By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
SHADOW Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has called for the closure of the Taylors Road toxic waste landfill in Lyndhurst, after a fire sparked an official CFA public health warning last Sunday week.
Mr Dreyfus, the current Isaacs MP, had advocated against the dump as a QC in 2008 before he entered federal politics.
“It is not appropriate having hazardous waste facilities located so close to houses and businesses,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“[The] fire and subsequent warnings by the CFA advising residents to take shelter indoors away from toxic smoke shows this.”
The call adds weight to a long-standing campaign by residents against the tip. Thelma Wakelam, spokeswoman for Residents Against Toxic Waste in the South-East, described the fire as a “wake-up call”.
She called on the State Government to develop a policy for disposing of hazardous waste.
“If the government isn’t looking at closing it, if they’re not prepared to come up with an alternative site, then if they look at a hazardous waste policy they’d have to find the tip meeting the criteria.
“It’s the location, what’s in the air and in the water – no-one can guarantee there won’t be a problem with that landfill.”
Colemans Road resident Ian Jensz, who lives metres from the site, admitted to thinking “Gee whiz” when he was first alerted of the fire but was not worried about the landfill’s safety.
“We’ve got to have this landfill and it’s just unfortunate that this one is so close to everything and the area has developed around it.
“The factories should not have been built around it.
“If they close it, where’s the hazardous waste going to go? Down our back streets?
“From what I heard, the fire wasn’t anything serious. I don’t see the landfill being a serious threat. It’s got strict regulations and I’ve never really had an issue with it.”
A CFA spokeswoman said the fire started from a reaction between different lead refining products catalysed by hot weather and drizzle about 9am. Nearby plastic caught fire from the smouldering reaction.
It took 10 fire crews about four hours to put out the fire, which produced black smoke and burnt a six-by-two metre patch.
A Watch And Act warning was issued by the CFA at the time for residents in Dandenong South, Lyndhurst, Lynbrook and Hampton Park to shelter indoors with doors and windows closed and cooling systems off.
The CFA spokeswoman said the precautionary warning was justified; the presence of lead made the smoke “potentially toxic”.
SITA, the landfill’s operator, denied the smoke was toxic, adding the disposal of lead compounds complied with its environmental licence.
“The fire did not pose a health risk to neighbours and residents,” a spokeswoman said.
“The CFA identified the potential community impacts as atmospheric only (smoke and odour) and there was no odour detected beyond the boundary.”
She said the landfill had strict waste acceptance and handling procedures and detailed environmental monitoring and reporting.
It was built to the “appropriate buffer distances” from neighbouring sites as set out in its licence, issued by the state’s Environment Protection Authority.
An EPA spokeswoman said SITA was issued a notice to supply an incident report about the fire, including “corrective actions”.
“Once this is has been received EPA will determine its next steps, which may involve a sanction or a remedy.”
She said there had been four reported fires at the landfill, including two in truck loads.
Both major state political parties have backed the landfill site.
Labor allowed grades B and C toxic waste to be dumped there when in government in 2007; the Liberals not only retained the site but added grade A hazardous soils in the mix in 2011.
An ALP opposition spokesman said: “Denis Napthine has failed to outline his plans for Taylors Road Landfill or put in place emergency management plans to ensure nearby residents and businesses are protected from future events similar to those that occurred last Sunday.
“Denis Napthine needs to be honest with the people of Lyndhurst and explains what his plans are for the site.”
The State Government did not respond to The Journal by deadline.
