1) EPA puts Brooklyn Waste Company on Notice - Media Release 05 July 2016

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued a Brooklyn company with a remedial notice after an investigation found poor waste management practices at its site were causing smoke to impact on the local community.

EPA Acting Metropolitan Manager Danny Childs said an EPA inspection of Western Land Reclamation Pty Ltd on Bunting Road in Brooklyn was triggered following reports from the community to its pollution hotline.
“EPA received complaints from Brooklyn residents about burning odours in the area that were drifting into their homes and our officers were able to trace these back to the company’s site,” Mr Childs said.
“Hotspots giving off a burnt smoke odour were found at many locations across the site, which is a breach of Western Land Reclamation’s EPA licence and an offence under the Environment Protection Act 1970.
“The site is a large EPA-licensed landfill operation that can accept solid inert waste, shredded tyre waste, and asbestos waste; however there should be no burning of waste at the site.”

Mr Childs said the remedial notice was just the beginning of an ongoing investigation that would continue to closely monitor the environmental performance of the company.
“This initial notice is for EPA to gain a better understanding of the hotspot problems that exist at the site. We expect to issue subsequent notices to remediate the problem and sanctions could follow,” Mr Childs said.
“EPA expects all licence holders to comply with their strict conditions to ensure that no environmental impacts occur as a result of operations, otherwise they will face the consequences.”
Mr Childs said the current notice required the company to engage a qualified consultant to investigate and determine the location and extent of any hotspots in waste deposited at the site.

“By Friday 29 July Western Land Reclamation must provide EPA with a thorough plan that details the exact position of any hotspots that currently exist on the site,” Mr Childs said.
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-us/news-centre/news-and-updates/news/2016/july/05/epa-places-brooklyn-company-on-notice

EPA urges members of the public to continue reporting suspected pollution to EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at www.epa.vic.gov.au

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2) Hobson Bay CC - Brooklyn Reserve - Have your say!

Drop in Session – Brooklyn Reserve 11 July
As an interested Brooklyn Community member, you would be pleased to know that Council is planning to carry out some improvement works at Brooklyn Reserve in the next 12 months. As we plan for these works, we are inviting you to participate and have your say in the process.
 
Background
In late 2015, Australian Tallow Producers Pty Ltd based in Brooklyn were found guilty of three counts of air pollution offences brought by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in relation to pollution of the atmosphere so that it was offensive to the senses of human beings on 22, June 2001, 23 June 2011 and 21 September 2011. During the judgment, the presiding Magistrate indicated that Tallow may be required to fund community projects that restore or enhance the environment for the wider public benefit. Project proposals were invited under the EPA’s IES (Inspiring Environmental Solutions) Community Funding Program. Hobsons Bay City Council applied for the grant and as part of the sentencing in December 2015, the Council was awarded $200,000.00 for the Brooklyn Reserve - Destination Play Space and Recreation Zone.
Council has committed an additional $200,000 to go towards the works, making the total project budget $400,000.
 
Participate – Drop In Session
Council is inviting all members of the community to have their say and participate in our community consultation session with the details as below:
 
Date :  11 July, Monday
           Time :  6 – 8 pm (Drop in at any time between 6 – 8 pm. There are no formal presentations)
         Venue :  Frances Sullivan Building, Brooklyn Reserve
If you cannot attend the event, the survey can be accessed at: http://participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/
 
The survey will be open until Friday, 29 July 2016.
For any questions email projects@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or call 9932 1131.

If you want more information on the project, go to: http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Council/Major-projects/Parks-and-foreshore-projects/Brooklyn-Reserve

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3) EPA welcomes the conclusion of its legal action against Brooklyn meat rendering company, June 7 2016

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has welcomed the conclusion of its legal action against a Brooklyn company after it was found guilty last year to three counts of air pollution offences.
Australian Tallow Producers Pty Ltd was found to be in contravention of the Environment Protection Act 1970 after it polluted the atmosphere by allowing odours offensive to humans on three separate occasions in June 2011 and September 2011.
The company caused a ‘rotting carcass’ smell to impact on nearby residents to the point where they were too embarrassed to invite visitors over.
Following an EPA investigation, ATP was convicted on all charges in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 21 December 2015 and was ordered to pay $200,000 to Hobsons Bay City Council to fund a community environmental project.
ATP was also ordered to pay most of the reasonable costs of the EPA in prosecuting the matter.
ATP and EPA agreed that ATP would pay $818,000 as an agreed amount in lieu of further court litigation to determine the actual reasonable costs of the EPA.
This is in addition to the previous $200k it has been ordered to provide to Hobsons Bay City Council to fund the environmental project.
For further information on the court outcome, please visit: http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-us/news-centre/news-and-updates/news/2015/december/22/rendering-company-ordered-to-pay-$200000

(Our apologies for not sending this earlier - we missed the news release - Jen Lilburn)
 

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The  2016 Brooklyn Community Representative Group Community Forums: 

Wednesday 27th July and 16 November 2016,

6.00 for 6:30 – 8:30pm
Brooklyn Community Hall, Cypress Avenue Brooklyn.
All welcome