Background
The Mindarie Regional Council (Licence Holder; MRC) holds licence L9395/2023/1 (formerly licence L6963/1997/14) under Pt V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) for the Tamala Park Waste Management Facility (TPWMF). The licence is held for the following prescribed premises categories as defined in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987:
- Category 12: Screening, etc. of material
- Category 57: Used tyre storage (general)
- Category 61: Liquid waste facility
- Category 61A: Solid waste facility
- Category 62: Solid waste depot
- Category 64: Class II or III putrescible landfill site
- Category 77: Concrete batching or cement products manufacturing.
The TPWMF primarily services the member councils and public with a refuse disposal service (landfill), a recycling centre with a reuse shop, a transfer station for general waste drop-off and a receival area for recyclables, household hazardous wastes and electronic wastes (e-waste).
The landfill is immediately south of the suburb of Clarkson. The Catalina housing estate, in Clarkson, is about 150 metres north of the landfill boundary and about 530 metres from the active landfill area. The suburb of Kinross is to the south (580 metres from the active landfill) and Mindarie is to the north-west (720 metres from the active landfill).
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the department) is aware of an increased number of complaints from residences in Clarkson, Mindarie and Kinross. Most of the complaints relate to nuisance odours which may be related to the landfill operations at the TPWMF.
What is happening now?
The department is responsible for regulating waste facilities such as landfills and is continuing to gather intelligence around complaints and other potential odour sources near the TPWMF. This includes any necessary inspections to identify and address odour emitting sources.
Community residents are reminded that it is important to report nuisance odours at the time that they occur by calling the Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782 or by lodging a complaint via the online reporting tool. Accurate reporting including the timing, description and personal impact of the odour will greatly assist the department in investigating the odour source and responding to complaints.
Residents are also encouraged to contact the Mindarie Regional Council on (08) 9306 6303 as licence conditions require Mindarie Regional Council to record, investigate and action complaints received at the landfill concerning any environmental impacts.
The department met with the Mindarie Regional Council on 23 May 2023 to discuss recent odour complaints and the controls being implemented at the landfill site to manage odour emissions. Areas for improvement were discussed with the Mindarie Regional Council, especially where other operational controls may be implemented through the licensing process.
Following on-site discussions, the department advised the Mindarie Regional Council on 2 June 2023 that it will undertake a review of existing licence conditions to determine whether the current controls are adequate or whether changes are required. The review process is likely to take up to six months to complete. The department will conduct the licence review in accordance with its Regulatory Framework which uses a risk-based approach to determine the outcome.
In the meantime, the department is working closely with Mindarie Regional Council to determine whether some more immediate licence changes can be made to control odour.
More information
This page will be updated as new information becomes available. If you have any questions related to the TPWMF, please email info@dwer.wa.gov.au and quote L9395/2023/1.
The department has a role to ensure adequate licence conditions are in place and to monitor compliance with these conditions by undertaking inspections, reviews and audits, and by receiving complaints, community reports and information from other regulatory authorities. If offences are committed, the department will take appropriate action in accordance with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
