West Gate Tunnel toxic soil decision paves way for multi-billion-dollar transport project

The troubled West Gate Tunnel Project has chosen a site to dump the contaminated soil that has delayed tunnelling for more than a year. 

Three sites were approved by Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria, but builder John Holland CPB Joint Venture has chosen Hi-Quality's landfill site at Bulla, in Melbourne's north-west.

The multi-billion-dollar transport project was meant to be finished next year but it has been plagued by delays due to issues about where to dump contaminated soil and a standoff between Transurban, its builder John Holland CPB, and the state government over who will pick up the tab.

The soil had been contaminated with per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS — dangerous chemicals that have been widely used in firefighting foam.

Bulla community 'disappointed'

Jack Medcraft, the Deputy Mayor of Hume Council where the Bulla site is located, said there had not been enough consultation.

"I'm disappointed this has been done behind closed doors and in secrecy," Cr Medcraft said.

"The council has been left out in the cold on this whole process. They've sprung on us that they've chosen the site in Bulla to dump this."

Cr Medcraft said one of the main concerns was around the number of trucks that would be in the area.

"If they're going to go putting soil like this, with contamination in it, we want to make sure there are safeguards in place," he said.

"We've got a single lane, a nearly 200-year-old bridge in Bulla, that's expected to take all the trucks of loaded soil to the tip.

"If there's a major accident on that bridge the area will be gridlocked."

But Transport Minister Jacinta Allan told ABC Radio Melbourne the council was consulted.

"The Minister for Planning did consult, as is required under the Planning Act that he very carefully followed, in the approval processes. There was consultation," she said.

"There are really strict requirements under the Planning Act for how the Minister for Planning consults.

"The local council was consulted with and, indeed, I've made approaches previously with the council to also meet with them, and for various reasons that hasn't been taken up."

Transurban has been contacted for comment.

'Relief' for Bacchus Marsh

Locals in Melbourne's outer west have welcomed the news that the soil would not be dumped at the Maddingley Brown Coal site in Bacchus Marsh.

Member for Melton, Steve McGhie, said this was a win for the local community.

"I dare say that there are people in Bacchus Marsh that are happy about this outcome," he said.

"We appreciate and thank those members who are raising their concerns with my office over a lengthy period of time.

Campaign for purpose-built facility

The Bacchus Marsh Community Coalition was set up to oppose the soil being dumped in the community.

Its spokesperson Kat Barlow said while it was great the soil would not be stored at Bacchus Marsh, no community should have to put up with it.

"It's certainly important and essential news that the soil isn't coming to an area that grows food that feeds the whole of Victoria, but certainly we're not celebrating it going to another community," she said.

"We've stated from the beginning that Transurban should build a purpose-built facility away from communities and there's certainly time to do so without delays to the project.

"We've learnt over the course of these last 18 months that money becomes before people and the environment."

The Moorabool Environment Group, which has outstanding legal actions against both the Planning Minister and EPA Victoria over the approval of the Bacchus Marsh site, said it was going to pursue its legal challenges.

"Our intention is to continue to pursue those legal challenges to ensure that each of the … approval decisions is quashed by the court," it said in a statement.

EPA Victoria CEO Lee Miezis said the agency would now work with the builders to make sure the site complies with environmental standards.

"We'll start working with that site to make sure that as they go through the process of building the site to receive spoil, and ultimately receiving spoil, that those conditions and requirements in that plan are being complied with," he said.