A committee examining potential hazardous waste treatment precincts has recommended four sites, with the Government now to consider its response.
A committee examining potential hazardous waste treatment precincts has recommended four sites, with the Government now to consider its response.
The full text of an announcement from the office of Environment Minister Mark McGowan is pasted below
Four sites within Western Australia have been recommended as possible hazardous waste treatment precincts, following a rigorous and independent assessment process by the Core Consultative Committee on Waste.
The Government will now consider its response to the 3C's report but Environment Minister Mark McGowan said he was yet to be convinced of the need for dedicated single-use precincts - particularly in the South-West of the State.
The 3C, appointed by the State Government in 2003, has conducted more than 45 public meetings and workshops around the State, presenting information and gathering feedback on the available options.
Environment Minister Mark McGowan said the committee had considered close to 1,000 sites, which it had shortlisted down to eight, before recommending a total of four sites.
The report recommends the establishment of three hazardous waste treatment precincts at:
- Mungari Industrial Estate in the Goldfields;
- a site 15km south-west of Karratha in the Pilbara; and
- either the Avon Industrial Park near Northam or a site at Mt Marshall near Bencubbin in the South-West.
Importantly, the 3C report has effectively ruled out the location of hazardous waste precincts in several sites. These sites include the Kemerton Industrial Park and the Bruce Rock site in the South-West and the Boodarie Industrial Estate in the Pilbara.
Mr McGowan said a Government Co-ordinating Group would consider the 3C's recommendations from a whole-of-government perspective.
"An analysis of the recommendations with regard to the environmental, social and economic impacts has already begun," he said.
"The Government will be looking at the issue very carefully over the coming months and consider all the options before making a decision."
The Minister said there had been considerable improvement to hazardous waste management in WA over the past five years.
"A lot has changed since the fire at Bellevue and the decommissioning of the Brookdale waste treatment facility," he said.
"There have been significant reviews of operating licences for hazardous waste treatment facilities and the operators of existing waste treatment facilities have made substantial capital investments to improve their facilities and ensure environmental compliance.
"In terms of regulation, the pollution response unit in the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) was established to respond quickly and effectively to pollution incidents, while a dedicated enforcement unit was put in place to improve the Government's capacity to enforce environmental regulations.
"The controlled waste tracking system has been implemented, allowing DEC to access up-to date information on the location and transport of hazardous wastes.
"The Environmental Protection Act has also been strengthened, with tough laws to prevent the unauthorised discharge of waste material into the environment.
"Furthermore, the most progressive contaminated sites legislation in the country has been passed and will come into effect on December 1."
Mr McGowan said while there had been significant improvement in the operation and regulation of the waste treatment industry, there was still a need for further
improvements and the 3C report provided good guidance for the way forward.
The Minister said the committee had been very committed to their task, working long hours on a complex issue and in particular, he recognised the important contribution of the co-chairs, Lee Bell and Mary Askey.