Today, thousands of these acetylene tanks are still scattered across commercial and residential properties throughout Victoria. Alarmingly, this scenario is hard to distinguish from a public safety and environmental catastrophe. The oral testimony paints a very different picture from the reality, as Moorabool Shire Mayor Paul Tatchell calls the ongoing situation “disgraceful.” The clean-up costs for this hazardous waste will exceed $500,000. In Victoria, only one of the 205 designated sites of the provincial building code is allowed to process these extremely flammable cylinders that hold toxic asbestos.
The crisis began when 20 pallets of dissolved acetylene cylinders were improperly relocated from a property in Merrimu, near Bacchus Marsh, onto council land. Illegal dumping is not a new problem. For several years, authorities have been plagued with how to properly dispose of acetylene cylinders statewide. Mayor Tatchell believes that the cylinders were indeed dumped there without the knowledge or approval of the property owner.
EPA and Council Responsibilities
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) instructed the Moorabool Shire Council to remove the rubbish. Mayor Tatchell condemned this directive, in addition to being hypocritical, because the EPA was well aware of the illegal dumping.
“The EPA definitely knows [who it is], but they just haven’t given it to us,” – Cr Tatchell
In his letter, the mayor lays blame on EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for not holding these criminals accountable. He thinks the agency is just passing the buck to the council while dodging responsibility themselves.
“They waited until these trailers were removed off this property and then put the order on us … to clean it up because the perpetrator was bankrupt,” – Cr Tatchell
The EPA assured the public that its emergency order for the council to remove the trash is ongoing. They did confirm that there are active investigations into the illegal dumping but decided not to disclose more information.
“The matter is continuing in VCAT as the final hearing is not until later this year,” – EPA
Community Impact and Government Response
Our local communities are under enough justified anxiety from the direct result of these lethal acetylene cylinders being present. Yet these cylinders have since been deemed “proscribed waste.” Mayor Tatchell highlighted the dangerous impact of these unlawful measures on residents’ safety and health.
“At the end of the day we’re there to protect our residents and we’re going to get a bill for about half a million bucks, plus legal costs, for something the EPA knew all about and watched happen,” – Cr Tatchell
We welcome the Victorian government’s appreciation of the seriousness of this issue. It is doing real-time work with municipalities across the state to address illegal dumping. A spokesperson said that it’s because they’ve given the EPA increased powers to take action, enforcing harsher penalties for chronic violators.
“We know illegal dumping of waste has an impact on local communities and environment — that’s why we have given the EPA greater powers to crack down on offenders,” – Victorian government spokesperson
Even backed by these assurances, Mayor Tatchell is still doubtful as to whether the government is truly serious about protecting citizens’ safety. At the same time, he’s made clear his frustration on what he believes is a lack of more definitive action.
“We either have a gutless minister that won’t stand in and protect the people, or an EPA … that is more interested in protecting the minister,” – Cr Tatchell
Next Steps and Future Actions
The clean-up operation is an enormous future logistical challenge. Only one facility in the state of Victoria is capable of processing acetylene cylinders for disposal. This limitation makes it even more difficult to go after the bad actors quickly and effectively.
Mayor Tatchell stands firm that this is a life and death case for acting fast and encourages the responsible authorities to stop putting bureaucracy before public safety. He thinks that timely settlements are critical to halting continued environmental harm from illegal waste dumping.
“This is when they used to dispose of acetylene with asbestos … those cylinders can never be refilled by the people who manage the products,” – Cr Tatchell
The situation remains fluid as local authorities await further instructions from the EPA while grappling with significant financial implications. As investigations continue, residents express their concerns about future incidents of illegal dumping and their potential impact on community health.
