New license restrictions imposed on Atlas Group to landfill at Mirrabooka

1/4/99
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said today strict new conditions had been imposed as part of a new 12 month licence issued to Atlas Group Pty Ltd to operate a Class 1 landfill at Mirrabooka. She dismissed an appeal by the Atlas Group against licence conditions relating to the composition of waste and disposal of greenwaste.
Mrs Edwardes reassured the community that under the new licence conditions Atlas would be required to meet strict conditions surrounding dust, odour and noise control or risk facing prosecution.
The Minister said as part of the licence, the company had been given a number of performance benchmarks. This included a timetable under which the company must demonstrate compliance with a range of conditions. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was responsible for ensuring these timetables were met.
The Minister commended the City of Stirling who will appoint an independent full-time environmental consultant to police the site on a full-time basis and ensure all licence conditions are met. Atlas have agreed to meet the costs of the consultant.
"The City of Stirling recognises that while we need waste disposal facilities, the operators must adhere to licence conditions and work with the local community to address any concerns," Mrs Edwardes said.
"The placement of a full-time inspector on the site should reassure the community that the State Government and City of Stirling are committed to ensuring the company adheres to these new licence conditions."
Performance benchmarks include:

• odour monitoring - the DEP and Atlas are required to provide a full report on this issue by May 1;

• dust monitoring - a preliminary dust monitoring program has been submitted and a final program is required by April 17;
• noise monitoring - a noise monitoring program has been submitted and is now required to be implemented;

• post closure and EMP (fill height) - Atlas is to revise and update its previous post closure management plan for the premises by May 17;

• baled waste composition - Atlas is required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the DEP, the composition of its baled waste from the solid waste treatment plant by April 16 and -

• landfill gas bores - Atlas is required to submit details of the landfill gas bores and to have installed those bores by May 1.

The Minister said she was very much aware of the community concerns surrounding the Atlas site and was confident that the current problems had been addressed through the new licence conditions and through the independent inspector.
Media contact: Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777