Shire to do Wonthaggi enviro tests, EPA won't budge

THE Bass Coast Shire Council has agreed to appoint an independent environmental auditor to carry out the Preliminary Risk Screen Assessments (PRSA) needed to address the conditions of the highly-restrictive Environmental Audit Overlays (EAO) retrospectively added to titles in the Wonthaggi north-east growth area.

The shire announced its efforts at resolving the impasse in its EAO Update No.5 communique issued to affected residents at 5pm on Thursday night, May 23.

And while the initiative has been welcomed by affected residents, they remain defiant that any overlays retrospectively applied to titled blocks, many of them with houses established as much as five years ago, should be lifted.

So far, the EPA has ruled that out.

Here’s what the Bass Coast Shire Council’s CEO Greg Box had to say on Thursday, May 23:

“I am writing to provide an update on the ongoing discussions Bass Coast Shire Council is having with Government authorities regarding the Wonthaggi North-East Environmental Audit Overlay.

“Thank you for your patience and assure you it is Council’s highest priority to ensure the interests of residents and landholders are represented in all our discussions with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA).

“Today I met with the CEOs of the VPA and EPA to discuss the recent work that the EPA has undertaken in relation to the EAO.

“The EPA has advised that based on the information available, there is not enough justification to amend or alter the Environmental Audit Overlay as it currently stands. It is important to note that the advice does not increase the risk related to any property, unfortunately the change of the EPA legislation since the report has rendered the information in the report as insufficient. Based on this EPA is recommending that a Preliminary Risk Screen Assessment needs to be completed.

“Council has appointed an independent Environmental Auditor to complete this work. This process is predominantly a desktop exercise, however auditors will be completing some site inspections as a part of their work. Property Owners will be notified and kept informed once the Auditor has finalised the first step in the process. It is likely they will occur in the middle of June but more information will be available after the preliminary work has been done.

“We expect this work to begin early next week and take about 6 weeks to complete.

“PRSAs are completed by EPA Appointed Environmental Auditors. These assessments look at the history of the land over time, in this case predominantly farming, and determine if there is a need for an environmental audit. If this is required, they also determine the scope of that audit.

“It is important to note that these assessments are precautionary in nature and are not a result of any contamination being found in the area. A number of these assessments have already been done and there has been no need for further investigation.

“If you have any questions related to this process, please contact Council’s Planning team.

“We want to thank you for your patience to date. All affected property owners will receive formal correspondence from Council in the coming days. Regards Greg Box, Chief Executive Officer."

Residents left unclear

The affected residents have been left unclear after reading the shire’s update, according to feedback on the ‘Wonthaggi Residents Affected by the Environmental Audit Overlay’ Facebook page:

* So, the council is paying for it?

* It reads that way. However, the overlay will remain (which could still devalue property) hopefully once council do the environmental study and it comes back clear they apply for it to be removed.

* I don't think it could remain. Unless it's contaminated.

* They would still need to apply to have it removed.

* Hopefully they do, that would alleviate some stress! And then hopefully the pressure from the public they can get it lifted once they know there is no contamination.

* Everyone write to council demanding rate revaluations immediately. They knew this shite in January and advised no one.

* This isn’t a good outcome.

* Was it ever going to be lifted? It’s a good starting point and if we keep pressure on everyone once they have carried out the study it may be able to be removed.

* Just reading that for about the 6th time… it sounds like the council is doing PRSA for the whole area, not just individual blocks? Following that will we all receive the certificate required to build?

* That’s the way I read it, once that’s done and comes back clear hopefully we can put pressure on them again and they can apply to VPA or EPA to have it removed as the desktop studies come back clear.

* In the meantime all of our properties plummet in value!

* If it's clear it would have to be removed. That's the process. I'm glad the council is paying for it.

* It’s a good start.