Island landfill cleared of contamination claims
Date published: 16 May 2016
An investigation by State environmental authorities has cleared the Picnic Bay Landfill of contamination claims following heavy rain in March.
Townsville City Council has received notification from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection that inspections and tests confirmed there had been no breach of the landfill’s environmental conditions.
The council reported the erosion at the time and completed remediation work, and DEHP carried out the investigation after receiving a complaint from the public that rubbish and contaminants had washed from the landfill site into nearby Butler’s Creek.
Council’s director of Water and Waste Keith Parsons said DEHP had advised the council that water quality had not been significantly impacted by runoff from the landfill.
“The findings dispel claims that were made at the time, and set the record straight for the local community and the general public,” Mr Parsons said.
“DEHP have carried out a thorough investigation, including site visits and water testing, and have found no evidence of any breaches of the landfill’s environmental conditions.
“Council’s Waste Services take the responsibility of managing the city’s landfills seriously and responded quickly to the erosion on the site, and reported the situation to DEHP.
“The council is undertaking a staged rehabilitation of the site and we will ensure the local community is updated on the progress of those works.”
The DEHP findings recommend the council continue to monitor event-based surface water quality in Butler Creek upstream, adjacent and downstream of the landfill during rainfall events.
Council carried out repair works on bunds located at both the top and base of the landfill and completed additional sediment control measures following the March downpour.
The landfill was closed to taking waste in early March this year as part of a waste management strategy that will have major benefits for the island’s environment.
Waste is now taken to the new $8 million Waste Transfer Station on West Point Rd and then shipped off the island to the mainland.
The council will carry out a staged rehabilitation of the landfill site over the next few years in accordance with State environmental guidelines. Work is about to start on a temporary cap and stormwater management system on the landfill while technical design for the rehabilitation project is completed.
The final capping system is expected to be completed by October 2018.
