Following a fire at SKM’s recycling plant in Coolaroo the Andrews Labor Government set up a joint Government taskforce to target key resource recovery sites that require extra management measures to ensure community safety.
The taskforce comprises Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV).
Auditing of priority recycling facilities across Victoria sites of concern has already commenced and will continue over the coming six months.
The audit process will identify and prioritise sites that require initial actions such as a Fire Management Plans or local government powers to be imposed to better protect community.
To ensure the taskforce has sufficient support to deliver immediate action, Minister D’Ambrosio has declared, under section 18B of the Environment Protection Act 1970, an interim waste management policy to require facilities to store materials in a manner that minimises risk to human health and the environment.
The policy outlines requirements for appropriate storage of recyclable materials, requires risk assessment by operators, and compliance with fire services guidelines. It clarifies that all operators that deal with combustible waste or recyclable material have a duty to minimise the risk to human health and the environment from their operations. Non-compliance with this interim policy could lead to sanctions under the Environment Protection Act 1970.
These powers will complement existing controls available under planning permits, through fire services, and other agencies.
EPA, with its partners in state and local government, has been working on fire risk control on sites in Brooklyn for some time. The lessons from these operations have been incorporated into the taskforce work.