Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued Alcoa of Australia Ltd with a Works Approval for two new landfill cells to accept waste from the decommissioning and remediation of its Point Henry premises.
The EPA Works Approval (WA) allows construction of two new cells at the Moolap landfill, but limits them to only accepting waste generated at the Point Henry premises.
The cells are designed to contain industrial wastes including dross dust, soil, sediment, clay, coke, salt pond residue, carbon spent anodes, concrete and pavers from the decommissioned plant, and the contents of the existing CPL landfill on the Point Henry premises.
The two new cells at the Moolap landfill will be above ground and contain 90,000 cubic metres of waste. They are expected to be filled, capped and rehabilitated by mid-2022.
As conditions of the Works Approval, EPA also requires the project to include:
• An independent environmental audit of the site
• Environmental monitoring, with reporting to EPA
• Lining of the cells
• Management of any gas, leachate, stormwater, dust and noise, and
• Plans for prevention and control of fire, litter and weeds.
Along with the WA, the proposal will also require planning permission from the City of Greater Geelong Council and an EPA licence before the landfill can begin operation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EPA Works Approvals are required under the Environment Protection Act 1970 for industrial and waste management activities that have the potential for significant environmental impact. Where a Works Approval is granted, it includes specific environmental conditions the company must meet for the project to go ahead.
The Works Approval application was advertised in January 2020 in the Geelong Advertiser and Herald Sun. It was referred to government authorities including the City of Greater Geelong, Sustainability Victoria, Country Fire Authority, Southern Rural Water, and Barwon Region Water Corporation for comment. No submissions or enquiries were received from members of the public.
EPA published the company’s Works Approval application and other documents on the Engage Vic website, at engage.vic.gov.au/epa-works-approvals/moolap-landfill
