Dust issues at former Bradmill site in Yarraville

Status: Active
Incident Date: 31 March 2023
Locations Affected: EPA region: Western Metropolitan.
341-351 Francis Street Yarraville and surrounds

EPA has received an increase in pollution reports throughout March 2023. They are about dust from earthmoving activities on the site. They are also about dirt tracked off site onto Francis Street.

Please keep reading for more information.

Summary

To date, EPA has taken strong regulatory action against The Winslow Group. They are a civil construction company operating at the former Bradmill factory site. The site is at 341-351 Francis Street, Yarraville. Our actions include ongoing legal notices and investigations into offsite dust impacts. EPA is also investigating potential breaches of the Environment Protection Act (2017).

What is currently happening on site?

EPA continues to inspect the site. EPA is also working with our co-regulators – Maribyrnong City Council and WorkSafe. This ensures a clear and coordinated approach to this issue.

The Winslow Group is doing civil construction and earthmoving works at the site. This is to prepare the site for development.

EPA has issued two legal notices and have been inspecting the former Bradmill site. The most recent joint inspection with Maribyrnong City Council was on 12 April 2023. EPA officers observed dirt tracked off site onto Francis Street. This was despite installation of extra rumble grids and some concreting and use of crushed rock on high traffic areas on the site. EPA will now require additional measures to be implemented to control dirt tracking off site.

Read the timeline below for more detailed recent updates.

Timeline

2023 – current regulatory action
On 5 April 2023, EPA issued a regulatory notice. This notice requires The Winslow Group to develop an air quality management plan that includes the installation of air monitoring equipment. This air monitoring equipment will measure dust particles in the air. This notice aims to monitor and reduce dust emissions from the premises. The deadline for notice compliance is 9 May 2023.

On 23 March 2023, EPA issued a regulatory notice that required further improvements to dust controls and risk management at the site. The deadline for notice compliance was 31 March 2023. While some improvements were made by this date, EPA Officers determined that compliance with this notice has not been achieved. We are now working with our Environmental Crime Branch to investigate potential enforcement. This can include actions such as fines or prosecution.

2022 – past regulatory action
EPA inspected the site late in 2022 in response to community pollution reports. EPA issued an Improvement Notice. It required installation of engineered controls to manage dust. Dust tracks off the site by trucks and other vehicles. EPA also provided compliance advice to improve general operations at the site. This is to reduce risk of harm to local communities and the environment. EPA inspected the site shortly after providing advice. EPA observed initial compliance with the regulatory requirements.

2014 – environmental audit of the site
There is a Statement of Environmental Audit (6443-2) dated 14 March 2014. The audit is for the former Bradmill site. An independent Environmental Auditor conducted the audit.

How to report any further incidents

If you notice any dust issue in the area, report it as soon as possible. Notify us by completing a pollution report form. You can also email contact@epa.vic.gov.au or phone our 24-hour contact centre on 1300 372 842.
Try to include as much information as possible, including:

characteristics of the dust
wind strength and direction
your location

Compliance and enforcement

Our compliance and enforcement approach is a mix of encouragement and deterrence. This is to motivate action. We escalate our response if a business is resistant, evasive or fails to account for its risks.

Improvement notices issued

23 March 2023 – Improvement Notice requiring further improvements to dust risk controls. Notice compliance deadline is 31 March 2023. EPA has observed installation of extra rumble grids. Failure to comply will result in EPA taking enforcement action.
August 2022 – Improvement Notice requiring the installation of engineered controls to manage dust. Dust tracks offsite from trucks and other vehicles.

Enforcement

EPA is currently investigating potential breaches of the Environment Protection Act 2017.

Responsibilities by organisation

There are many organisations that have a role in regulation. This is to ensure duty holders prevent and manage risks.

EPA

Our role is to check and enforce compliance with the Environment Protection Act (2017).

We regulate prevention or control of pollution. EPA also improves the quality of the environment. This includes regulating activities that may present a danger to the environment. One of the tools available to us is the licensing of certain scheduled premises. These premises may present a risk to the environment. EPA supports duty holders to comply meet environmental obligations.

For more EPA information

Learn about how EPA provides guidance to the construction industry
Resources for the construction industry sector.
Learn how Victorian businesses are responsible for protecting human health and the environment.

Local council

Maribyrnong City Council has legislative oversight of municipal planning.
Planning permits have conditions to manage dust.
https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Residents/Major-planning-projects/Bradmill-Precinct-Francis-Street-Yarraville

WorkSafe

WorkSafe is Victoria’s workplace health and safety regulator. WorkSafe ensures employers meet their OHS obligations to create a safe work environment.

Community information

EPA’s practice is to make the results of investigations public as soon as possible. EPA has provided an update about recent regulatory actions to local community members. These are people who have reported pollution from the former Bradmill site.

Community information session

EPA will be attending a community pop-up event at Angliss Reserve on Friday 21 April 2023 from 1-2 pm. Go to Angliss Reserve near the corner of Francis and Roberts Streets, Yarraville.