Toxic soil solution underway as minister overrides shire

WORK is ramping up on a solution to the toxic soil crisis that has delayed the West Gate Tunnel and one proposal could be running within a month if approvals are granted.

It is understood that Maddingley Brown Coal, one of the frontrunners to handle the soil contaminated with industrial chemical PFAS, is well advanced in its bid. Digging on the $6.7 billion project has ground to a halt as Transurban and its builders have struggled to find a dumping ground for the dirt that will be unearthed by tunnel boring machines.

The long-running dispute has escalated during the past six months after CPB and John Holland threatened to tear up the contract and Transurban announced the project would be completed in 2023 rather than 2022.

This week the builders announced they could stand down up to 600 jobs on top of the 137 tunnelling workers already laid off in response to the dispute.

Its believed Maddingley Brown Coal has emerged as a strong contender to handle the waste and could begin doing so quickly if it overcomes three requirements. The company has lodged a submission for its soil disposal plan with the EPA and asked Planning Minister Richard Wynne to intervene and consider fast-tracked planning changes instead of Moorabool Shire Council.

If these are granted the company would then need to sign a contract to start collecting the soil.

A Government spokeswoman said the EPA had confirmed levels of PFAS would be safe for communities and the environment if managed with appropriate controls.

“Victoria needs an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, Transurban signed a contract to deliver this project and we will hold them to that contract,” she said.

Moorabool Mayor David Edwards said the council did not support being bypassed by the minister and warned an illformed judgment could be made. “Council has been professional throughout this process and has never stated a position for or against this project,” he said.

Bacchus Marsh residents group and a nearby school have also hit out against the proposal and have vowed to rail against any plan to store the soil in the local area.