A CAFPIRCO Road property owner has welcomed news the state’s environmental regulator has placed an asbestos dump application determination process “on hold” until further information becomes available.
This follows an outcry from Compton residents and Grant District Council over the controversial proposal.
Paul Lawrence – whose property is just 80 metres from the Sandyridge Holdings quarry – yesterday welcomed the move by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
“But I would like the EPA to go one step further and can it because an asbestos dump in that location is not safe,” Mr Lawrence said.
“The EPA needs to look after the residents and the environment.”
Grant District Council acting chief executive officer Graeme Maxwell revealed council was likely to lodge its second submission today with the EPA.
Mr Maxwell said council engaged further legal advice indicating the 1984 development approval was not a legal avenue that could be taken “as an obstacle” to the application.
He said asbestos was a “solid waste” material that was contemplated in the original approval, which was granted by the former Mount Gambier and District Council.
But Mr Maxwell said he hoped the EPA would consider all the feedback from council and residents.
The council executive also revealed the EPA had indicated it would not support attending a public meeting at this time because it was the “wrong part of the process”.
However, Mr Maxwell said the EPA had not ruled out attending a public meeting in the future.
In a statement to The Border Watch, an EPA spokesperson said the environmental agency had determined that further information and documents were required from the proponent.
“Before proceeding to determine the application, the process will be placed on hold until the applicant provides further information relating to whether the proposal requires further development authorisation,” the spokesperson said.
The EPA received an application from Sandyridge Holdings for a process change to its current EPA licence.
“As part of the lodgement of the application, the EPA was advised that Sandyridge Holdings had development authorisation for disposal of non-putrescible waste at the site,” the spokesperson said.
This advice enabled the application process to start.
The EPA invited neighbouring landowners and the community to provide written submissions in relation to the proposal.
Thirty-five submissions were received by the closing date earlier this month.
“The EPA has forwarded these submissions to the proponent for comment,” the spokesperson said.
“In addition to inviting written submissions, the EPA started its assessment process and has reviewed documents lodged for this application.”
The spokesperson for the quarry – Brian Keane – yesterday declined to comment to The Border Watch on the issue.
