By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
AN AVIATION fuel spill that gridlocked the Monash Freeway and the surrounding road network for five hours on Wednesday has ignited concerns about Lyndhurst’s industrial waste dump.
A Toll Group truck was parked near the freeway’s Heatherton Road overpass shortly after 10am when the truckie was alerted to a leak by another driver.
The truck driver called emergency crews, triggering the closures of the freeway and Heatherton Road until 3pm while up to 12 CFA crews cleaned up the spill.
A CFA spokeswoman said there was concern that the fuel leaking from a drum may mix and ignite with “other highly dangerous chemicals” carried by the truck.
During the clean-up, the CFA issued a warning to nearby residents, advising them to stay indoors and not to turn on air-conditioners.
Last week the EPA confirmed the truck was carrying industrial waste.
RATWISE spokeswoman Thelma Wakelam said the incident highlighted the folly of locating the state’s only industrial waste dump at Taylors Road, Lyndhurst.
“It’s a disgrace and opens up more questions – how often does this occur? Where was the truck headed – to the tip or for treatment?”
She pointed to EPA regulations prohibiting the transporting of prescribed industrial wastes of different types together unless they are “compatible with each other”.
“Is any waste actually compatible with highly flammable aviation fuel?
“Just how often are we transporting dangerous material on suburban roads and freeways?
“Maybe there is cause, in an effort to avoid potential dramas, to transport waste at night to minimise this risk.
“There’s certainly a compelling argument for locating hazardous industries in areas away from suburbia.”
RATWISE and Greater Dandenong Council are mounting complementary campaigns to lobby state election candidates to close the Lyndhurst toxic waste dump.
Mayor Sean O’Reilly said: “While this (incident) is not directly related, the community would be concerned.
“That’s why we’re continuing the campaign for the closure of (the prescribed industrial waste dump).”
The council has been collating responses from candidates on the issue, which will be published on the council’s website before the election.
Neither the ALP nor the Coalition parties have yet indicated they would back the council’s stance.
EPA chief executive Nial Finegan said he would not comment or speculate on the incident during the authority’s investigation.
He said transporters carrying prescribed industrial waste, the source waste generator and receiving companies were potentially liable to “substantial fines” of more than $350,000 if they fail to comply with regulations.
Toll Group spokesman Christopher Whitefield said it took its safety responsibility “extremely seriously”.
“We appreciate and apologise for the inconvenience that events like (this) cause but will always co-operate with authorities where potential safety concerns arise.”
During the clean-up, drivers reported long delays on Dandenong’s main arterials.
A ‘perfect storm’ of incidents intensified the traffic congestion, including a road closure at Dandenong Bypass due to a fatal two-car crash early the same morning, a large fire at Sandown Racecourse at 11.30am and a car crash rescue at the Monash Freeway-EastLink intersection at 11.49am.
