Page 1307 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 April 2016
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As part of the management plan, the contractor is required to cover and uncover the compacted waste material on a daily basis using covering material approved by the EPA. In response to the odour issue, the EPA has requested the waste be covered with soil, rather than large mats, at the end of each operational day. This deeper coverage has been undertaken for most of this year and has been confirmed through the eight EPA visits conducted on site.
In terms of the content of the landfill at the Mugga site compared to interstate waste landfills, Mugga has a relatively low ratio of putrescible waste to inert waste from the commercial and industrial sectors. This is likely to reduce odours escaping into the nearby environment.
In terms of future development at the Mugga Lane landfill, the EPA has requested that NoWaste undertake modelling to assess the potential odour impact of the planned future expansion as a condition in the development application. ACT NoWaste supports this approach and will work with the authority to develop terms of reference for this work.
The landfill area is not the only activity that is closely monitored at the Mugga site. Inspections of the green waste recycling depot are also included as part of the monitoring activity by the EPA. For example, EPA officers investigated whether any grinding or turning of green waste has been recently undertaken, noting the amount of material stockpiled on site, what the prevailing weather conditions are and if there is any general odour. This is important in ascertaining the potential source of any smell.
In closing, while the source of the odour has not yet been determined, I have every confidence that TAMS and EPA officers are working their hardest on this issue. I thank them for their efforts to date. I know they share the ACT government’s commitment to finding the source and fixing any issues as soon as possible.
I present the following paper:
Tuggeranong—Ambient odour issues—Government response to the resolution of the Assembly of 10 February 2016—Copy of statement, dated March 2016.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.
Ethical government
Discussion of matter of public importance
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Madam Speaker has received letters from M Burch, Mr Coe, Mr Doszpot, Mr Hanson, Mr Smyth and Mr Wall proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, Madam Speaker has determined that the matter proposed by Mr Smyth be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
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