Opalvale - Salt Valley Road Landfill

Background

In August 2017, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) received an application from Opalvale Pty Ltd (Opalvale) for a licence to operate a Class II landfill at Hoddy’s Well (768 Chitty Road). DWER commenced a risk-based assessment of licence application L9089/2017/1.

Cell 1 of the landfill was constructed under works approval W5800/2015/1 (issued on 27 August 2015). Following the submission of an amendment application, by Opalvale, to address compliance matters relating to the construction of Cell 1 of the landfill, Amendment Notice 1 to the works approval was issued by DWER on 17 August 2017. On 8 September 2017, five (5) appeals against the amendment to works approval W5800/2015/1 were lodged with the Minister for Environment (Appeal Number 023/17.001-005).

On 8 January 2018, the assessment of the licence application was placed on hold pending the outcome of the appeal.

The Minister reached a decision to allow the appeals, in part, on 8 September 2018. Amendment Notice 2 was made to works approval W5800/2015/1 to give effect to the Minister’s decision.

Following the Minister’s decision on the appeal against works approval W5800/2015/1, DWER recommenced the risk-based assessment of the licence application L9089/2017/1 and granted licence L9089/2017/1 for the operation of Cell 1 of the Salt Valley Road Landfill on 5 February 2019.

A total of three (3) appeals were received objecting to conditions of the licence (Appeal Number 010/19).

On 3 January 2020 the Minister made a decision to allow the appeals in part, requesting that conditions of the licence be amended in relation to vermin and pests, rehabilitation and fire management.

The Minister’s appeal determination can be found on the Office of the Appeals Convenor website.

On 28 April 2020 DWER issued an amended licence to give effect to the Minister’s appeal decision. Under section 105 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, amendments to a licence made following an appeal determination by the Minister cannot be appealed.

On 3 March 2020 the Licence Holder submitted compliance documentation to illustrate that Cell 2 of the landfill had been constructed in accordance with the requirements of works approval (W5800/2015/1).

On 3 March 2020 the Licence Holder also submitted an application to amend licence L9089/2017/1 to allow for the acceptance of waste into Cell 2. The application was advertised on DWER’s website for public comment on 22 April 2020. Three (3) submissions were received within the 14 day comment period.

^{Updated July 2020}