Where the site has already been used as landfill, the following information should be included:

• a short history and description of landfilling activities at the site.  Include illustrations, tables and figures as appropriate. Also include dates of when landfilling started, waste types and volumes landfilled, waste cells and sequence of cell filling
• a summary of the site’s compliance and complaints history for the last three years. Where there have been environmental or health and safety compliance issues, or complaints received, please provide a short description of the issue or complaint and the response taken to prevent reoccurrence.

Provide a description of:

• the buffer distance between sensitive receptors and confirm it’s available for the life of the landfill and for a minimum of 30 years following closure of the site. Illustrations may assist.
• how you will protect groundwater, surface waters and flora and fauna
• the most appropriate landfilling type to meet the requirements imposed by local conditions
• the site layout, with considerations to minimising impacts to the environment and human health
• the overall concept for the design and layout of cells design

Find more information

Part 5 of Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788)

Environment Reference Standard and Guide to the Environment Reference Standard (publication 1992)

Directory of important wetlands in Australia (Environmental Australia 2001)

National Parks Act 1975

Water Act 1989

Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994

Provide a description with illustrations and figures, and justification of:

• the selection of the proposed landfilling type and key controls such as liner design and provision of leachate and landfill gas collection systems. EPA’s expectation is that the most appropriate landfilling type and associated controls will be chosen to meet the requirements imposed by local conditions. In addition to meeting the requirements of the general environmental duty
• the site layout, with considerations to minimising impacts to the environment and human health
• the overall concept for the design (including capping) and layout of cells design
• the size and capacity of existing infrastructure (that is, cells, leachate ponds, any landfill gas collection systems) to deal with the proposed future landfilling at the site
• the hours of operation
• operational controls to be implemented to ensure for example waste acceptance (that is, measures to ensure only permitted waste types are disposed off at the site), placement of daily cover, daily site inspections.

If the municipality is not be the operator of the landfill, identify this and provide details of the operator (if known) or an outline of the selection criteria to be used in the appointment process for the operator.

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Industry guidance: supporting you to comply with the general environmental duty (publication 1741)

Part 5 of Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788)

You’ll need to show you have a thorough understanding of the environment where the landfill will be. You must demonstrate the design of the landfill will minimise impacts on the environment. This requires an environmental assessment (EA) that includes but is not limited to:

• an assessment of the local meteorological data
• a hydrological assessment including:
  • depth to groundwater
  • separation distance between bottom of waste layer (this means the lowest point of the leachate sump) and the top of the long-term undisturbed groundwater
  • an assessment of the potential impacts on local groundwater quality
• an assessment of water management requirements
• details of chemical and fuel storage management
• an assessment of landfill gas¹, dust and odour controls
• climate change impacts of the proposal
• a fire-management plan

¹Due to their small size A05b landfills are unlikely to require an extensive or active landfill gas control system. However, an appropriate assessment should discuss and determine what controls will be fit for purpose.

Find more information

Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788)

Landfills exempt from licensing (publication 1563)²

Hydrogeological Assessment (groundwater quality) guidelines (publication 668)

²Although this exemption no longer applies, this guidance may inform State of Knowledge regarding designing and operating an A05b activity

Describe the characteristics of the liner and leachate collection system (with illustrations and figures where appropriate). These include but are not limited to:

• how it prevents contamination of groundwater
• how it will continue to achieve objectives if several parts of the system fail
• the maximum seepage rate for the design
• information about the drainage layer (including thickness, conductivity and how far it extends)
• how it incorporates materials in construction and is designed to manage risks so far as reasonably practicable
• its geotechnical stability
• how the system is inspected and cleaned.

Find more information

Appendices A, D, E and F of Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788)

Environment Reference Standard and Guide to the Environment Reference Standard (publication 1992)

Describe the controls and systems in place avoid any adverse impacts on environment or environmental values for water and groundwater. These should include but not limited to:

• how stormwater, leachate and groundwater is segregated
• water balance for the site and estimated volume of leachate to be generated
• leachate collection, storage facilities, treatment, and disposal including controls for:
  • leachate escaping into surface waters or groundwater
  • leachate causing offensive odours offsite
  • minimising human contact with leachate
• a groundwater management plan
• stormwater diversion banks and/or cut-off drains and storage dams
• fire-fighting equipment and water supply
• wheel washes
• demonstrating the site reuses water onsite whenever practical.

Find more information

Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788)

Environment Reference Standard and Guide to the Environment Reference Standard (publication 1992).

How the Environmental Reference Standard applies

Include information about traffic management controls to minimise safety concerns, noise, and grime on external roads.

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Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788) 

A construction quality assurance plan that makes sure materials, construction methods and installation procedures deliver a landfill that meets design criteria.

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Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788) 

Include information about noise management controls, and if required an assessment (for example, where noise is considered an actual or potential concern) that demonstrates compliance with relevant noise limits and guidelines and reduces impacts to sensitive receptors.

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Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (publication 1826)

Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788) 

Describe information about the cap design, rehabilitation and aftercare that has been considered for the landfill this should include but not be limited to:

• the potential after uses of the site
• operational requirements, to ensure that the capping is designed to suit the intended after use
• surface contours before and after settlement
• specifications and materials to be used in the final cap
• preservation/installation of environment performance control or monitoring features

Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788) 

Provide information on the principles, objectives, frequency of the environmental monitoring and measures taken to prevent any potential environmental impacts by the landfill. The monitoring and auditing program should include but not be limited to:

• the environmental elements to be included in the program
• a list of parameters to be monitored
• an identification of sampling point locations and associated sampling infrastructure
• sampling methods with reference to standards or procedures to be applied
• a schedule of monitoring frequencies for sampling or testing of each parameter, with justification provided for the frequency adopted
• Proposed trigger levels and corrective actions to be taken

Find more information

Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (publication 788)

Landfill licensing guidelines (EPA publication 1323)

Assessing and controlling risk: A guide for business (publication 1695)

Reasonably practicable (publication 1856)