The cleanup of the Lemon Springs site has now successfully uncovered 34,000 acetylene cylinders, 26 of the 32 sites have been excavated and the waste removed.
 
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) Lemon Springs project manager Julian Bull, says the clean up is well on the way despite the challenges involved.
 
“It’s still a huge task not made easier by the volumes of rainfall the region’s experienced lately that needed to be collected from the excavated sites and treated at a purpose-built onsite plant for re-use,” said Julian.
 
“Contaminated soil continues to be treated onsite and we have used it in the backfilling of eleven of the excavated sites. So far, 14 soil stockpiles have been treated allowing the soil to be remediated to a suitable level for reuse onsite reducing the need for disposal to landfill. 
  
“We’re also investigating the best methods for disposal of so many acetylene cylinders and recently went to tender.”
 
The cleanup project is expected to be completed by mid-2023. EPA will continue to update the community on the progress of the site.

 
Staying informed
EPA’s website is the best place to visit to stay up to date –  www.epa.vic.gov.au/lemonsprings
For a further update, view our latest progress video on the clean up works: Lemon Springs June Update 
 
For further information and feedback: 
• visit our website https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ 
• call 1300 372 842
• email northwest.mailbox@epa.vic.gov.au
If you know someone interested in receiving monthly Lemon Springs updates, they can email northwest.mailbox@epa.vic.gov.au to register

Have your say and complete a short survey on the project here