Energy Brix has welcomed the decision by the Environment Protection Authority to approve its application for construction of an asbestos disposal cell at its site.
Energy Brix General Manager Remediation, Barry Dungey, said it was pleasing that after 15 months of investigations of suitable disposal sites and the expenditure of more than $200,000 in engineering assessment fees, the cell design met all of the EPA design criteria suitable for asbestos disposal.
“We held a public meeting in Morwell in October 2017 where we presented the planned site location along with the planned design and final landscaping pictures of what the area will look like at the completion of the asbestos removal,” Mr Dungey said.
“At that meeting, local residents had more questions on the asbestos removal process envisaged rather than the disposal cell itself.
“There is no risk of asbestos fibre release during disposal as under regulations, all asbestos must be suitably sealed prior to disposal. As an extra safety precaution, EBAC will also conduct air monitoring when placing material into the cell with the results being posted on our website within 24 hours of results being available.”
Mr Dungey stressed that once the material was buried and sealed, it was then completely safe as it was only air borne particles that were a risk to human health.
He said the selected site provided the lowest risk option for the community for disposal of the estimated 10,000m3 of asbestos to be removed from the site.
“If the site was not approved then we would have no option but to truck all of this material to Melbourne for disposal creating a risk of complete freeway blockage for up to 24 hours if a truck accident was to occur.”
The final stage of EBAC’s required approval process is the Latrobe City Council meeting scheduled on Monday night (4 June).
Council officers are also recommending the cell be approved as it meets all of the land planning requirements for EBAC’s current zoning.
A link to the approved EPA works approval and to a detailed question and answer sheet on the cell design and general asbestos information is available on EBAC’s website – https://ebacdemolition.com.au/