Media Release, June 2007

Following meeting on 18 June 2007

Port of Geelong Strategic Planning

There are two complementary strategic planning documents for the Port of Geelong out for comment. The first is the PLUS (Port Land Use Strategy) prepared by Toll Geelong Port and the Department of Infrastructure (DoI). The second is the Geelong Port Structure Plan, prepared by the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG).

There are some policy differences between the two plans that the Department and Council will discuss and attempt to resolve. Representatives of the Department of Infrastructure and Geelong Port told the committee that the draft PLUS has a focus on long-term land use and infrastructure needs of the port. Terry Demeo and Tim Hellsten from CoGG explained that the Geelong Port Structure Plan would lead to a Planning Scheme Amendment to make the final Structure Plan an incorporated document within the planning scheme for Geelong, together with a Development Plan Overlay and other zone changes.

Both plans identify a Refinery Pier Precinct (called a Liquid Bulk precinct in the PLUS). The bulk storage of certain classes of chemicals would be excluded in other port precincts.

While complimenting both plans (and their authors) for the good strategic planning in the two plans, community representative Sue McLean was most concerned that third party appeal rights on planning permits would be removed through the proposed statutory changes, for those proposals that are in conformity with an as-yet unseen Development Plan.

Submissions on the draft PLUS should be submitted by 13 July 2007, while submissions on the Draft Geelong Structure Plan should be submitted by 27 July 2007.

Groundwater contamination

Colin Macintosh, Geelong Regional Manager for EPA, tabled a report by Coffey Environments, which was prepared specifically at the request of the EPA for Shell to provide a report on the state of groundwater at the Terminals Corio site. The report is an interim one, and has not been verified by an EPA appointed auditor. It states that the data indicated that PSH (phase separated hydrocarbon) is limited, dissolved metal concentrations are generally consistent with background water quality, some specific PAHs (poly aromatic hydrocarbons)and metal results are considered to be due to the presence of fill material within the reclaimed area of the Terminals site, and that lead concentrations are either less than detectable limits, or less than the adopted EIL(Environmental Investigation Level). Colin supported these findings, and said the results were quite consistent with the area having been a fill site, and similar to leachate from other fill sites.

Sue McLean told the Committee that she was glad that the community concerns about pollution of the inter-tidal zone did not appear to be occurring opposite the Terminals site.

WorkSafe 3 day audit

Geoff Cooke of WorkSafe advised the committee that a five year extension to Terminals' Major Hazard Facility licence had been granted, a "milestone event". While the first round of licences in 2002 introduced the "safety Case" approach, this round of renewals requires much greater emphasis on management systems and performance monitoring, with a requirement from WorkSafe for Terminals to submit an Annual Report on the monitoring.

Release of refrigerant cooling the Butadiene storage sphere

Terminals reported that a tiny amount of ammonia had leaked from a solenoid valve in the refrigeration plant enclosure. While the leak posed no threat to the safe storage of the butadiene, and no butadiene was released, the failure of the almost new solenoid valve was a surprise to Terminals, and it was promptly replaced.

Next meeting of the Committee

The next meeting of the Committee is on Monday 6 August 2007. It will be held at Corio Library, Cox Road, Norlane, at 6:00 for 6:30. Terminals will report on the changes in the Major Hazard Facility licence conditions.

Robin Saunders 
Independent Chair

Chair: Robin Saunders Phone/Fax: (03) 9853 7510
12 Hodgson St KEW VIC 3101 E-mail: robsaund@ozemail.com.au



	Home Page Adopted Minutes Media Releases Technical Reports About the Committee Terms of Reference About Terminals Contact Details Useful Links		Media Release, June 2007 Following meeting on 18 June 2007 Port of Geelong Strategic Planning There are two complementary strategic planning documents for the Port of Geelong out for comment. The first is the PLUS (Port Land Use Strategy) prepared by Toll Geelong Port and the Department of Infrastructure (DoI). The second is the Geelong Port Structure Plan, prepared by the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG). There are some policy differences between the two plans that the Department and Council will discuss and attempt to resolve. Representatives of the Department of Infrastructure and Geelong Port told the committee that the draft PLUS has a focus on long-term land use and infrastructure needs of the port. Terry Demeo and Tim Hellsten from CoGG explained that the Geelong Port Structure Plan would lead to a Planning Scheme Amendment to make the final Structure Plan an incorporated document within the planning scheme for Geelong, together with a Development Plan Overlay and other zone changes. Both plans identify a Refinery Pier Precinct (called a Liquid Bulk precinct in the PLUS). The bulk storage of certain classes of chemicals would be excluded in other port precincts. While complimenting both plans (and their authors) for the good strategic planning in the two plans, community representative Sue McLean was most concerned that third party appeal rights on planning permits would be removed through the proposed statutory changes, for those proposals that are in conformity with an as-yet unseen Development Plan. Submissions on the draft PLUS should be submitted by 13 July 2007, while submissions on the Draft Geelong Structure Plan should be submitted by 27 July 2007. Groundwater contamination Colin Macintosh, Geelong Regional Manager for EPA, tabled a report by Coffey Environments, which was prepared specifically at the request of the EPA for Shell to provide a report on the state of groundwater at the Terminals Corio site. The report is an interim one, and has not been verified by an EPA appointed auditor. It states that the data indicated that PSH (phase separated hydrocarbon) is limited, dissolved metal concentrations are generally consistent with background water quality, some specific PAHs (poly aromatic hydrocarbons)and metal results are considered to be due to the presence of fill material within the reclaimed area of the Terminals site, and that lead concentrations are either less than detectable limits, or less than the adopted EIL(Environmental Investigation Level). Colin supported these findings, and said the results were quite consistent with the area having been a fill site, and similar to leachate from other fill sites. Sue McLean told the Committee that she was glad that the community concerns about pollution of the inter-tidal zone did not appear to be occurring opposite the Terminals site. WorkSafe 3 day audit Geoff Cooke of WorkSafe advised the committee that a five year extension to Terminals' Major Hazard Facility licence had been granted, a "milestone event". While the first round of licences in 2002 introduced the "safety Case" approach, this round of renewals requires much greater emphasis on management systems and performance monitoring, with a requirement from WorkSafe for Terminals to submit an Annual Report on the monitoring. Release of refrigerant cooling the Butadiene storage sphere Terminals reported that a tiny amount of ammonia had leaked from a solenoid valve in the refrigeration plant enclosure. While the leak posed no threat to the safe storage of the butadiene, and no butadiene was released, the failure of the almost new solenoid valve was a surprise to Terminals, and it was promptly replaced. Next meeting of the Committee The next meeting of the Committee is on Monday 6 August 2007. It will be held at Corio Library, Cox Road, Norlane, at 6:00 for 6:30. Terminals will report on the changes in the Major Hazard Facility licence conditions. Robin Saunders  Independent Chair Chair: Robin Saunders Phone/Fax: (03) 9853 7510 12 Hodgson St KEW VIC 3101 E-mail: robsaund@ozemail.com.au