Minister Missing On Maddingley Matters
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur tabled a series of Questions on Notice for the Minister for Planning on 3 March 2020 in relation to the proposal to dump toxic soil at Maddingley Brown Coal near Bacchus Marsh.
Ministers are required to respond to Questions on Notice within 30 days.
The Minister’s answers are now overdue by 3 weeks.
Quotes attributable to Bev McArthur MP:
“What is the Minister hiding?”
“The communities of Bacchus Marsh and Maddingley should be extremely concerned about the Minister’s aversion to inquiry and scrutiny. If the government is moving ahead with finalising plans to dump toxic soil in their backyard while community consultation is impossible – then that is scandalous, and residents ought to know.”
“The Labor Government cannot use the cover of darkness provided by the pandemic to sneak toxic soil into Bacchus Marsh. The Minister should answer these legitimate questions and concerns raised with me by the community.”
“The proposal to dump toxic soil from the West Gate Tunnel at Maddingley Brown Coal is totally irresponsible, and despite Labor’s clear wishes, should not go ahead.”
The questions were as follows:
MRS MCARTHUR — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Planning): In relation to the contaminated soil disposal from the West Gate Tunnel project: Prior to the project commencement, was the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning aware of the 2017 submission from the Environment Protection Authority Victoria that recommended that the West Gate Tunnel project address the management, treatment and disposal of PFAS-contaminated groundwater and land.
MRS MCARTHUR — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Planning): In relation to the contaminated soil disposal from the West Gate Tunnel project: Why have the nine technical impact assessments on the environmental, socio-economic, amenity and traffic impacts of the proposal to store, categorise and dispose of contaminated soil in Maddingley Brown Coal, not been made available to the public or the Moorabool Shire Council.
MRS MCARTHUR — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Planning): In relation to the reports from residents in the Maddingley and Bacchus Marsh area that trucks have been dumping materials on the Maddingley Brown Coal premises over the last three weeks, and noting that no official agreement has been made with Maddingley Brown Coal over the disposal of the PFAS-contaminated soil from the West Gate Tunnel project: What is the material that has been dumped and where is it coming from.
MRS MCARTHUR — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Planning): In relation to potential amendments to the Moorabool Planning Scheme under section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to enable contaminated soil to be dumped at Maddingley Brown Coal:
(1) Will the soil be classified according to the level of its hazard prior to the moving of the soil to the site, or upon its arrival.
(2) What is the timeline being considered for the decision of whether an amendment is to be made.
MRS MCARTHUR — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Planning): In relation to Maddingley Brown Coal’s website that states that the site is not licensed to accept asbestos contaminated waste: Given that reports suggest that the soil from the West Gate Tunnel project is not only contaminated with PFAS chemicals but also with asbestos, why is the Government considering Maddingley Brown Coal as a potential site for disposal.
MRS MCARTHUR — To ask the Special Minister of State (for the Minister for Planning): In relation to the Maddingley Brown Coal site as a disposal site for the contaminated soil from the West Gate Tunnel project:
(1) If soil is disposed of at the site, who will be responsible for the testing, storage and treatment of the soil.
(2) Who would be liable for serious environmental or health consequences resulting from soil disposal at the site.
(3) Have any alternative sites for contaminated soil disposal been considered that are not near residential areas.
(4) Will the Bacchus Marsh and surrounding communities be guaranteed safety from contamination.
23 April 2020