No Dumping In Bacchus Marsh On Monday!
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has expressed concern at the latest development in the ongoing fight by Bacchus Marsh residents to prevent PFAS contaminated soil from being dumped at the Maddingley Brown Coal (MBC) facility.
Bacchus Marsh Community Coalition today quoted a well-placed source, who expects Category-C contaminated soil will begin to be moved to the MBC facility from Monday 15th June.
While this soil is not from tunnelling operations, which have not yet begun, it is soil from the West Gate Tunnel Project, and is believed to be Category C, PFAS contaminated soil.
Mrs McArthur said: “I have written to the Minister asking for urgent clarity on today’s news.”
“The status of this soil must be made clear. The fact it is not the bulk of the soil due to come from the tunnelling itself is of no comfort to residents in Bacchus Marsh. If this is still PFAS-affected soil, they have a right to know.”
“Moreover I do not believe MBC should receive any further soil at all, while it remains subject to Council action at VCAT over existing permit infringement. The apparent development of further tip capacity, outside of the permitted area, is of further concern to the community and should be fully explained.”
She concluded: “Residents have been told repeatedly by local MPs, Ministers and the Premier himself that no decision has yet been made on the site for PFAS soil dumping.”
“I am worried that a decision has in fact been taken, and that today’s news is an obvious attempt to clear the road for the planning application currently before the Minister for Planning, to normalise the dumping of toxic soil at MBC, and to wear down the opposition of Bacchus Marsh residents.
“They should realise that this will never work. I am confident that the unanimous community opposition will remain, and local campaigners will continue to fight until this threat to Bacchus Marsh is defeated.”
12 June 2020