Adopted Minutes
Thursday 19 July 2007
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PRESENT |
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Robin Saunders CICCC / Chairperson |
Tim Faragher Environment Protection Authority |
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Bro Sheffield-Brotherton |
Scott Moloney Environment Protection Authority |
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Ian Thomas Community Rep./Committee |
Carlo Fasolino State Manager Victoria, Terminals Pty Ltd |
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Deborah Macfarlane Community Rep./Committee |
Peter LaRose |
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Theo Pykoulas City of Maribyrnong |
Paul Hayward |
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Faye Simpson Community Member |
Susan Chatterton Minute Taker |
ITEM 1. WELCOME BY THE CHAIR, APOLOGIES & CONFIRMATION OF DRAFT AGENDA
Robin Welcomed Scott Maloney from the EPA to the meeting and all others in attendance.
Apologies George Horman, Geoff Millard
Confirmation of draft agenda - adopted
ITEM 2. CONFIRMATION DRAFT MINUTES FOR THE MEETING ON
17 MAY 2007 AND REVIEW ACTION ITEM LIST
Draft Minutes
Tim Referred to Page 5 of the previous minutes as being incorrect where it was recorded ÒQuentin had resignedÓ should have been Òwhilst Quentin is presently working on other projects he will be returning in the near futureÓ.
Minutes adopted.
Action Items
02/06-6 Community information and warning system. Action completed and responses received from Office of the Premier of Victoria – Geoff Walsh (Chief of Staff), Colleen Hartland MLC (State Member of Parliament for Western Metropolitan Region), Martin Pakula MLC (Member for Western Metropolitan Region), and Marsha Tomson MP (State Member for Footscray, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier).
All appreciate and share our interests, the matter now rests with the Commonwealth.
Deborah Due to the flooding in the Lakes Entrance district an early warning system is to be put in place an automated system which will see people being called individually.
Theo Felt Deborah may have been confusing the information with the monitoring equipment that is in place on rivers which is used to relevant authorities of impending flood. This is similar to equipment used by Melbourne Water for Maribyrnong River to give advanced warnings of river floods to other authorities including Council.
(After the meeting Robin spoke to Joe Buffoni at the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner. Joe advised that an automated river gauging system will be installed, which will enable advice on predicted flood heights to be telephoned to the relevant authorities in time for them to take action.)
02/07-2 Carlo spoke to Marstell – Ian Ross who has replaced Ron Dickenson, and the others at the Users Group Meeting regarding community representation at their meetings and they all said ÒnoÓ to the request.
02/07-3 Greenhouse gas emissions - first report included in the Operation Report for May-June 2007. Item completed.
05/07-1 IAR to be made more specific —awaiting CarloÕs action.
05/07-2 Completed
05/07-3 Completed
05/07-4 Completed
05/07-5 Chemical storage figures to be provided each March and September – No clients will be included in report.
05/07-6 Paul demonstrated the remote monitoring and control now available for the facility. Completed
05/07-7 Completed
05/07-8 Carlo conducted presentation of chemical classification systems in GeoffÕs absence. Copy of presentation to be emailed to Robin
05/07-9 Carlo conducted presentation of contour consequences in GeoffÕs absence. Copy of presentation to be emailed to Robin.
Faye Are chemicals that are interactive with each other kept separate?
Carlo Yes. Terminals refer to the Material Data Safety Sheets on each product to determine which products can be stored in proximity to others.
Ian Felt vapour modelling was not conducted correctly in the past. Not entirely sure what the Risk Assessment looked at.
Carlo Terminals do not store any product of any great volatility.
Robin Matter should be referred to WorkSafe
Ian Felt that would serve no purpose whether or not there is a risk of vapour explosion. Just felt that as he had not conducted any studies with current storage scenario whether WorkSafe had done so.
ACTION: Robin to contact WorkSafe to seek their advice about the adequacy of the Terminals consequence contours, and the potential for a flammable vapour cloud to explode.
ITEM 3. REPORTS FROM AGENCIES AND TERMINALS
TERMINALS PTY LTD
Paul Demonstrated the new security system installed at Terminals on his lap top computer for all to observe actual activity at the site.
Robin Thanked Paul for his demonstration.
Peter Discussed the Monthly Operations Report. The month preceding the end of financial year is always a quiet month.
Paul Terminals is looking at using waste heat generated from the combustor to generate electricity therefore saving greenhouse gases.
Carlo Draw the committees attention to the Planning Application currently before the council with regard to the Cotton Mills development behind Lonely Planet.
MARIBYRNONG COUNCIL
Theo CouncilÕs planning enforcement people have uncovered about 10 to 12 illegal dwellings in the Cotton Mills site on Maribyrnong Street. One of them has now sought to apply for a permit in the hope of changing the current illegal works.to have a factoryette altered to residential. Port of Melbourne Corporation, Marstel are putting in an objection to application. Currently going through the process and will be interesting to see how far the application gets.
Robin Port of Melbourne Corporation objection would be based on keeping residential zones away from the port.
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY
Tim EPA has had interaction with Terminals with regard to Planning Permit to remove 4 tanks and replace with 3 larger tanks. The product to be stored is Urea which does not require a works approval. The only requirement is a slight modification to the bunds.
ITEM 4. SCOTT MALONEY TO BRIEF COMMITTEE ON OVERVIEW OF THE COPORATE FOCUS AND OBJECTIVES OF EPA
Scott Went through Powerpoint presentation:
EPA Strategic Direction
á Environment Protection Act
á Pre 1970Õs – rivers used as sewers
á EPA Act 1970 – Licenced discharge of waste, development of policies and regulations and enforcement.
á Environmental challenge
á Structure
á New strategic direction released last year
á Four objectives
o Increase resource efficiency
o Reduce emissions impacts
o Enhance reputation
o Benefit the economy
á 2007/08 Business Planning
o Licensing reform
o Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans
o Prescribed industrial waste
o Greenhouse
o Relationships with Business, Government and Community
o Carbon Management Principles
o Measuring our GHG Footprint
o GHG Emissions Inventory
o Neutralising our inventory 2005-06 & beyond
Ian Does the EPA recognise significance in growth in population. Is anything being done or recommended about that?
Scott Certainly. There are many more people with longer life expectancies, and population increase is recognised as an important issue.
Licensing reform:
á What requires licences and what doesnÕt
á Industry to submit resource efficiency plans
á Industry greenhouse program
á Prescribed waste will be part of program with a very strong focus on this
Deborah Not sure on what Òprescribed wasteÓ means
Scott Prescribed waste is industrial waste for example:
á Paint sludge
á Contaminated soil
á Waste that has a particular hazardous level
Peter The problem of waste disposal is an issue, waste having to be transported to Sydney.
Bro Australian destruction sites need to be built to stop waste being sent overseas.
Ian There is no incinerator in Australia
Scott The Tullamarine site closing for industrial waste 2009 and Lyndhurst is being looked at as an alternative site in the possible future but only taking solid sludge that has been treated before dumping.
Ian An initiative by EPA to extend life of Lyndhurst by not permitting 44 gallon drums being sent to landfill
Scott Drums are to be cleaned out sufficiently to allow the drums to be dumped at landfill
Bro EPA gradually increased its involvement with industry but needs to sort out how they interact with community. Community being viewed as neighbours to business. Community consultation treated as a derivative of business consultation.
Scott EPA looking into how they can consult more broadly with the community
Robin Queried whether EPA would have the scientific resources to be a leader in Greenhouse work.
Scott Doing work in this area for many years. EPA is not talking about taking the responsibility for fixing climate change but trying to make a difference in greenhouse emissions.
Bro EPA has put out many reports on greenhouse
Scott EPA is looking to combine licences for businesses with multiple sites. Licences dealing with both day to day issues as well as corporate decisions.
Deborah Was there a revenue stream associated with licences?
Scott Revenue stream would remain the same
Peter Waste disposal costs increasing all the time.
Faye Assurance needs to be looked at whereby the process cannot be manipulated – that wastes cannot be disposed of in a way that should not be.
Scott There will be no lowering of standards just more consistency within licences. Obligations around minimum standards, monitoring, and reporting conditions. All licence requirements would stay the same.
Faye Creating pricing pressure, be careful not to make waste disposal a money strain. Standardisation is required, a quality schedule needs to be formulated (how far and wide applied), creating a pressure cooker situation.
Scott Need to look at the entire package – not only the need to put resources into enforcement of limits of licences. New treatment standard at land fills, inspections, and recognise risks involved with increased standards. Internal auditing, on the ground enforcement and reporting to community – information being made publicly available.
Faye If they do have a problem do you work with them to fix the problem?
Peter Yes they do but a lot of industries fear EPA because of the fines they impose. They are worried about being slapped with a fine. We get EPA out first before making any changes to avoid that situation.
Faye If the company doesnÕt have a solution does EPA work with the company?
Scott EPA works with the company to fix the problem
Tim Increases in landfill charges are redirected into finding solutions for companies.
Bro Is it possible to have the role of policeman and assisting role combined?
Robin Did Bro feel WorkSafe combined both roles?
Bro WorkSafe does not interact with community groups at all
Scott EPA is trying to be more transparent with the broader community
Ian There is a view that there is an incentive now for a truck to open valve whilst driving along and let waste go on the road. EPA has phenomenal power now to bring those responsible for spills to count.
Faye Personal account – truck was continually spaying liquid on her car whilst she was driving along. What could she of done?
Scott Record observations such as number plate, time of incident, etc and then report to EPA and action could then be taken.
Robin Thanked Scott for very interesting presentation
ITEM 5. SAFETY CASE BRIEFING BY GEOFF MILLARD
Covered in Action Items
ITEM 6. REVIEW IAR AND EPA SIGN OFF
Deferred to next meeting.
ITEM 7. OTHER BUSINESS
None
MEETING CLOSED 9PM
NEXT SCHEDULE MEETINGS: 20th September, 2007
Remaining Meeting date for 2007 on 22nd November