By NARELLE COULTER
THE operator of Lyndhurst’s toxic waste dump is under attack from Greater Dandenong Council and resident group for not consulting them over a “serious” change in its operation.
SITA Australia was forced to defend itself at a heated public meeting last Wednesday, having sought Environmental Protection Authority approval for covering the landfill with category-C toxic soil – the most benign category of hazardous material – prior to informing its community reference group (CRG) and the council.
Previously SITA was required to use a clean-fill coverage.
SITA state manager Daniel Fyfe said a planned six-month trial of the alteration would be deferred for several weeks until community consultation was complete.
“I expressed my regret to the CRG about the way the communication went. We appreciate the contribution of the members of the CRG and the council.”
Mr Fyfe said the change did not require an alteration to the licence but sought advice from the EPA about what material would pose a windbourne risk to surrounding residents and workers.
“We weren’t going to get the community all hot and bothered about this without first checking with the EPA if we could go ahead with this,” he said.
CRG member Thelma Wakelam, also a member of Residents Against Toxic Waste in the South East, said she doubted if the trial would have been deferred without the public outcry.
