Cleansing of contaminated sites in Melbourne’s western suburbs gets go-ahead

VCAT has given approval for the decontamination of polluted soil sites across Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Dr John Lucas, Managing Director of Innova Soil Technology, said he was looking forward to working with the local industry, developers, councils and the community to prioritise the sites.

Innova has been given approval by VCAT to begin operating its EPA-approved soil remediation plant in Altona.

The Innova cleansing process removes an extensive range of hydrocarbon contaminants from polluted soil, allowing the decontaminated soil to be beneficially re-used in parks, gardens and recreation areas, as well as commercial and industrial developments.

The process will transform current industrial wastelands into thriving new developments and will allow Innova to clean soil from small polluted sites, including former petrol stations.

Innova estimates that the project will create 10 jobs during construction and 20 on an ongoing basis.

Dr Lucas said Innova’s totally designed and constructed process is safe, clean and means that contaminated soil will no longer need to be sent to landfill.

“The Dow site in the Altona petrochemical complex is ideal due to location, size and existing resources,” he said.

“Innova has demonstrated during previous projects, including a major soil remediation project in Springvale, that there is no impact on local residents. Additional controls included in Innova’s proposal provide further assurance that there will be no adverse impacts.

”From the community’s point of view, the centre will be located in the heart of some of the most polluted sites in Victoria, including 18 in the Hobsons Bay municipality, and offers a proven and environmentally friendly solution,” he said.

Dr Lucas said that Innova would continue to work with local residents over any concerns they may have over the operation of the plant, which will begin operating early in the New Year.