BLAZE AT TROUBLED LARA RECYCLING PLANT:
Emergency crews called to troubled recycling centre
WATER bombers and firefighters were yesterday called in to battle a fire at a waste facility already declared a risk to public safety.
Amid legal action and high-level concern about management of the site, a smouldering fire yesterday ignited in rubbish at C&D Recycling in Lara.
Geelong council-led interventions ground the Broderick Rd firm’s operations to a halt late last month.
Yesterday, five CFA crews and two firefighting aircraft were needed to curb the small blaze.
Authorities are acting on major concerns about the potential impact of the huge amount of waste at the site.
“The EPA and CFA have identified this facility as a risk to public safety,” Geelong council’s city services director, Guy WilsonBrowne, said.
“The council is doing everything within its power to mitigate risks, and is working with emergency services to ensure plans are in place to support the community in the event of a fire.”
On the eve of Christmas, the council secured a ban on operations through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
“The interim enforcement order stated that no additional waste was to be brought onto the site, and that operational equipment should be on the site at all times, such as a water cart and dozers,” Mr WilsonBrowne said.
“Due to the City’s actions, operations have temporarily ceased at the site.”
The fire ignited in the same week that further talks began in VCAT.
The council is taking enforcement action against the operator for breaches of its planning permit.
C&D Recycling has lodged a counter application to amend the planning permit and gain extensions to its deadline for action.
The compulsory talks failed to reach a resolution, with another conference expected to be held next month.
VCAT hearings are scheduled for March and April.
The fire, which was reported about 12.30pm yesterday, was contained within about 20 minutes, although firefighters remained on the scene for longer.
“There was a small smouldering heap on arrival,” CFA operations officer Geoff McGill said. “There were no flames and just a little bit of smoke.”
Mr McGill said that residents had no cause for heightened concern as the authority was confident the waste was not going to reignite and the fire was not suspicious.
Mr McGill said the CFA closely monitored the facility — like other areas of higher risk in the region — and was well prepared for any further fires on site.
A Lara resident, who works nearby, said the threat of another Coolaroolevel blaze at the Broderick Rd centre was real.
“It’s absolutely a reality,” the man, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
“The price tag to clean up the site will be phenomenal.”