SITA Australia soil processing facility receives state government go-ahead

Following more than three years of comprehensive research, planning and extensive consultation with the local community and the regulator, SITA Australia (SITA) has received the state government permits to develop a soil processing facility to treat and recover contaminated soil at its Taylors Road Landfill in Dandenong South.

The Environmental Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued SITA with a Works Approval for the installation of the secure soil processing facility. The approval contains a range of conditions that will ensure ongoing monitoring and reporting of the development and operational management of the facility.

The EPA’s approval follows the announcement late last year by the Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, that SITA’s planning permit and amendment application to allow the use and development of a soil processing facility at the Taylors Road Landfill had been approved.

The amendment rezones the land from Farming Zone (FZ) to Industrial 1 Zone (IN1Z), better reflecting the ongoing use of the site.

As the Australian leader in resource recovery, SITA is committed to the reduction of waste streams currently going to landfill and is experienced in the processing options that will treat and recover contaminated soil.

“We are consistently meeting the waste challenges of urban development and have a responsibility to address major ecological issues associated with waste generation,” said SITA’s State General Manager for Victoria, Daniel Fyfe.

“Development of the soil processing facility at the Taylors Road Landfill will provide for the remediation of contaminated soil from development sites across Melbourne to less hazardous products that pose less risk to the environment,” he said.

SITA consulted frequently with the community during the application process. Since release of the draft discussion paper in 2009, members of the Taylors Road Landfill Community Engagement Steering Committee (TRL CESC) have been regularly updated on the status of the applications.

In addition, during 2011, the EPA held a 20B Conference for the community, and the Department of Planning and Community Development conducted a planning panel hearing which heard submissions from community organisations and residents.

“We understand that not all members of the community were supportive of our proposal. However, their input, comments and recommendations have been extremely valuable and have helped guide the state government in its decision-making process,” said Fyfe.

“An important aspect of SITA’s operations is our commitment to seek input from our community stakeholders. We will continue to meet with TRL CESC members and the wider community throughout the development and the ongoing management phases of the soil processing facility.”

SITA expects the soil processing facility to be developed and operational within two years.