THE state’s environmental regulator has given the green light for SA Water to store redundant asbestos-containing cement pipes at its depot in Mount Gambier.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) decision to grant the SA Water licences follows outcry from residents near the city depot.
Residents have raised concerns over their wellbeing and the negative impact on property values.
SA Water submitted a licence application to the EPA to store the material at 31 sites across the state to formalise what it describes as “long-held safe practices”.
People living or working near each site were given the opportunity to provide feedback through the EPA’s standard review process.
“One of the concerns highlighted through our engagement process was people wanted more general information on how asbestos cement pipes should be safely handled and stored,” SA Water customer field services senior manager Colin Bell said.
“We have since provided reassurance our staff who work with this material are specifically trained to ensure their safety and that of the community and existing procedures fully comply with relevant codes of practice and safety regulations.
“To further improve these safe practices … we have worked with a licensed contractor to organise new enclosed and lockable containers.”
Another concern raised was the “incorrect” perception SA Water was proposing to build asbestos recycling facilities at its sites.
“This likely arose from confusion with the application name – waste or recycling depots (waste for resource recovery or transfer) – and we have since advised residents that we do not, and have no plans to undertake any asbestos processing at these sites,” Mr Bell said.
Around 42pc of SA Water’s water network is made of cement pipes that contain bonded, non-friable asbestos.
“With our 24/7 operations, repair works can take place at any time of the day or night when licensed waste handling facilities are not always open, so we need to make sure any removed sections of pipe are safely stored temporarily at one of our sites,” Mr Bell said.
“The pipes are double-wrapped immediately after being removed … and then transported.”
EPA investigations and waste compliance manager Stephen Barry said there had been a high level of interest and concern and the EPA took community feedback into account when determining licence conditions.
“As part of the review of the licence application, the EPA inspected all sites,” Mr Barry said.
“The material will be required to be securely wrapped, signposted, and stored in a covered locked bin or compound.
Millicent, Naracoorte and Robe applications were withdrawn.
