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Land

Page content: Contaminated land | Waste management | Cleanaway Landfill in Tullamarine | Biosolids | Effluent disposal | Cleaning up after a bushfire

Contaminated land

Contaminated land is often a legacy of our industrial past when the community’s awareness about the need to protect the environment was much lower than it is today.

Managing Risks Associated with Land Contamination: Guidance for Councils

When soil contains elevated levels of metals or other substances, it does not automatically mean a human health risk exists.

However, there is heightened public awareness of the potential for soil contamination, especially in areas where children stay or play. To manage these situations consistently, effectively and transparently, councils should develop policies and procedures specific to their municipality to deal with potentially contaminated sites. Careful planning and early community engagement are essential.

These guidelines provide the tools to assist your council in developing a policy and procedure for effectively managing contaminated sites.

Adobe Acrobat icon Managing Risks Associated with Land Contamination: Guidance for Councils (613kb, pdf)

DHS held a seminar/workshop on 4 December 2006, which was based on the guideline document 'Managing Risks Associated with Land Contamination: Guidance for Councils'. The following are copies of the speakers' presentations, including an introductory summary for the session.

Adobe Acrobat icon Managing Risks Associated with Land Contamination seminar introduction (41kb, pdf)

MS Powerpoint icon EPA Regulatory Framework - Jean Meaklim and Chris McAuley (122kb, MS Powerpoint)

MS Powerpoint icon Potentially Contaminated Land & the Planning System - Denise Turner (119kb, MS Powerpoint)

MS Powerpoint icon Soil Assessment in Children’s Services (122kb, MS Powerpoint)

MS Powerpoint icon City of Yarra, A Council Case Story - Chris Court (536kb, MS Powerpoint)

Adobe Acrobat icon Overview of the Environmental Site Assessment Process - Luke Cattlin (667kb, pdf)

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Health risk assessment

The enHealth Council has developed National Guidelines for assessing health impact and health risk.

Adobe Acrobat icon enHealth Guidelines for assessing health impact (389kb, pdf)
This document is available from the enHealth Council web site

Adobe Acrobat icon enHealth Guidelines for assessing health risk (1100kb, pdf)
This document is available from the enHealth Council web site

Mine tailings & arsenic

Many towns and cities in Victoria have been built in areas with a history of gold mining. Mine tailings that contain arsenic are spread over large areas of land, including land now used for housing. This booklet contains information for people who live in such areas. It gives information on what you need to know and actions you can take to protect your family's health.

Adobe Acrobat icon Arsenic and Health - Are you Living in an Area with Mine Tailings? (342kb, pdf)

Waste management

The following site contains information about waste management.

Environment Protection Authority
The Environment Protection Authority provides extensive information about the management of waste in Victoria.

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Cleanaway Landfill in Tullamarine, Investigating health concerns in population living near the landfill

The Cleanaway landfill is located in the City of Hume in a former stone quarry in Western Avenue, Tullamarine. The landfill is next to Melbourne Airport with the residential suburbs of Attwood, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park and Westmeadows within a 3 km radius (refer to map). The landfill has operated since 1973. It was used for liquid and solid industrial wastes until 1988. Since this time, it has received only solid wastes.

Adobe Acrobat icon Investigating health concerns in populations living near the Cleanaway landfill in Tullamarine - Public information sheet (226kb, pdf)

The Environmental Health Unit coordinated the following investigation with input, expertise and assistance from the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit (within the Public Health Branch), Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity and The Cancer Council Victoria.

Adobe Acrobat icon Investigating health concerns in populations living near the Cleanaway landfill in Tullamarine - Short technical report (279kb, pdf)

Biosolids

The following site contains information about biosolids.

Environment Protection Authority
The Environment Protection Authority has developed guidelines for treatment and use of biosolids. The Department of Human Services contributed to the development of these guidelines by setting standards to ensure that public health was protected from the reuse of biosolids.

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Effluent disposal - Septic tanks code of practice

The following site contains information about septic tanks.

Environment Protection Authority
The Environment Protection Authority has produced a Septic tanks Code of Practice

Cleaning up after a bushfire

Houses, sheds and other buildings or structures that are burnt in a bushfire can leave potential health hazards in the remaining rubble, ash and debris.

Adobe Acrobat icon Cleaning up after a bushfire (34kb, pdf)

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Last updated: 29 July, 2008
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