ATO TARGETS RECYCLER

THE company behind the defunct waste processing facility in Lara is being taken to court over large debts to the Australian Taxation Office.

C&D Recycling will front the Federal Court later this month, after the tax office initiated legal action to have the troubled firm wound up.

Company director David McAuliffe (pictured) told the Addy that C&D Recycling’s li- abilities extended past $1 million.

The proceedings cast further doubt on the necessary clean-up of the Broderick Rd site, which has been estimated at costing up to $100 million.

The property, declared a fire risk by authorities for its 350,000 cubic materials of waste, has been untouched since late last year.

While he is still seeking legal advice, Mr McAuliffe said he expected to support the compulsory liquidation.

“It is not unexpected, it is a consequence of the things that have gone terribly awry,” he said yesterday.

“It is being wound up because there is no future in it. The company hasn’t traded since July 1 (last year), and has incurred substantial losses since that time.”

Mr McAuliffe said the company’s demise did not impact on the orders imposed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in June.

The orders — which require staged works to safely secure the site — also apply to Mr McAuliffe and the landowner, The Australian Sawmilling Co (TASCO).

The Geelong council said all requirements were being adhered to.

“Council is continuing to monitor the condition of the site and work with the land owner to ensure all planning requirements are met,” planning and development director Joanne Van Slageren said.

But no workable solution has been found to rid the site of its massive mounds of waste.

CFA operations officer Patrick Geary has described the prospect of a fire on the land as “likely” and the consequences to be “catastrophic”.

A mooted gasification plant — to turn the waste into energy — hasn’t advanced and TASCO has not been able to find another operator, Mr McAuliffe said. He said the prospect of a clean-up at the site was unlikely anytime soon.

“The issue has always been the failure to provide workable conditions within an achievable time frame,” he said of the approved permit.

Mr McAuliffe said the vast amount of the company’s debts were owed to TASCO and the tax office. He said staff wages had been paid and there were only a couple of trade creditors who were owed relatively minor amounts.