Media Release, August 2007

Following meeting on 6 August 2007

Chemical transport

Following concern expressed at he June meeting of TGCCC, the Committee wrote to Chemtrans about the potential conflict of chemical tankers and the arrival and departure of children from schools. Mr Alan Brooks of Chemtrans attended the TGCCC meeting on 6 August, and advised that Chemtrans had rescheduled truck movements in the morning to avoid school start times. While in the short term the afternoon times presented a more difficult problem, Chemtrans had on order a bigger butadiene tanker that would remove the need for tanker movements in the afternoons. The delivery of the new tanker was anticipated in late September.

The Committee thanked Chemtrans for its quick response on the issue.

Bitumen Storage

In response to concerns by Terminals that EPA didn't have a "level playing field" when it came to requirements for Works Approval for bitumen plants, the Committee heard how a bitumen plant at Crib Point had not required a Works Approval. The EPA Chairman had written to Terminals, explaining the differences between the two facilities. As Terminals Geelong facility is a Scheduled Premise, a Works Approval is required for a new bitumen facility. The facility at Crib point was not a Scheduled Premise and hence did not require an EPA Works Approval.

Neil McKenzie told the committee that recent changes to the EPA Act include a requirement for Works Approval for all new bitumen plants.

George Horman, Terminals Managing Director, explained the new measures being planned to prevent any accidental spill of bitumen from getting into the bay. As bitumen solidifies quickly when exposed to the atmosphere and will not soak into the ground, normal requirements for containment bunds can present more problems than they solve. So Terminals approach is to provide complete containment if a catastrophic breach were to occur, by using the natural fall of the site, and low mounds along the edge of the creek Shell uses for cooling water discharge.

Cr Tom O'Connor and the Association of Bayside Municipalities

The Committee was pleased to welcome Cr Tom O'Connor to the meeting. Tom made an interesting presentation to the Committee on the ABM (Association of Bayside Municipalities), which consists of the twelve Councils that have frontage to Port Phillip Bay. Tom represents the City of Greater Geelong on the ABM, and is currently its Chair.

Tom told the Committee of his desire to ensure that the ABM looks at the bay and its surrounding land use holistically, integrating aspects of environmental quality, recreational enjoyment and the very important economic function of surrounding port-related industry.

The second round Safety Case

Geoff Millard of Terminals made a short presentation on the recently completed review of Terminals' Major Hazard Facility licence from WorkCover. The first round of new licences requiring a detailed Safety Case analysis was five years ago, and the 18 month process to review the licence has been successfully completed. Although the overall standard of the Terminals Geelong facility was quite good, the review identified more than 30 significant improvements to safety practices at the facility. These involve additional hardware for the plant, better management procedures and documentation, and improved training for operators. Terminals will progressively address all the measures identified.

Terminals also made a brief presentation on its new EPA licence, a copy of which is now on the TGCCC web site (http://tgccc.org)

Next meeting of the Committee

The next meeting of the Committee is on Monday 10 September 2007. It will be held at Corio Library, Cox Road, Norlane, at 6:00 for 6:30. The focus of the meeting will be on emergency communications to surrounding residents.

Robin Saunders
Independent Chair



	Home Page Adopted Minutes Media Releases Technical Reports About the Committee Terms of Reference About Terminals Contact Details Useful Links		Media Release, August 2007 Following meeting on 6 August 2007 Chemical transport Following concern expressed at he June meeting of TGCCC, the Committee wrote to Chemtrans about the potential conflict of chemical tankers and the arrival and departure of children from schools. Mr Alan Brooks of Chemtrans attended the TGCCC meeting on 6 August, and advised that Chemtrans had rescheduled truck movements in the morning to avoid school start times. While in the short term the afternoon times presented a more difficult problem, Chemtrans had on order a bigger butadiene tanker that would remove the need for tanker movements in the afternoons. The delivery of the new tanker was anticipated in late September. The Committee thanked Chemtrans for its quick response on the issue. Bitumen Storage In response to concerns by Terminals that EPA didn't have a "level playing field" when it came to requirements for Works Approval for bitumen plants, the Committee heard how a bitumen plant at Crib Point had not required a Works Approval. The EPA Chairman had written to Terminals, explaining the differences between the two facilities. As Terminals Geelong facility is a Scheduled Premise, a Works Approval is required for a new bitumen facility. The facility at Crib point was not a Scheduled Premise and hence did not require an EPA Works Approval. Neil McKenzie told the committee that recent changes to the EPA Act include a requirement for Works Approval for all new bitumen plants. George Horman, Terminals Managing Director, explained the new measures being planned to prevent any accidental spill of bitumen from getting into the bay. As bitumen solidifies quickly when exposed to the atmosphere and will not soak into the ground, normal requirements for containment bunds can present more problems than they solve. So Terminals approach is to provide complete containment if a catastrophic breach were to occur, by using the natural fall of the site, and low mounds along the edge of the creek Shell uses for cooling water discharge. Cr Tom O'Connor and the Association of Bayside Municipalities The Committee was pleased to welcome Cr Tom O'Connor to the meeting. Tom made an interesting presentation to the Committee on the ABM (Association of Bayside Municipalities), which consists of the twelve Councils that have frontage to Port Phillip Bay. Tom represents the City of Greater Geelong on the ABM, and is currently its Chair. Tom told the Committee of his desire to ensure that the ABM looks at the bay and its surrounding land use holistically, integrating aspects of environmental quality, recreational enjoyment and the very important economic function of surrounding port-related industry. The second round Safety Case Geoff Millard of Terminals made a short presentation on the recently completed review of Terminals' Major Hazard Facility licence from WorkCover. The first round of new licences requiring a detailed Safety Case analysis was five years ago, and the 18 month process to review the licence has been successfully completed. Although the overall standard of the Terminals Geelong facility was quite good, the review identified more than 30 significant improvements to safety practices at the facility. These involve additional hardware for the plant, better management procedures and documentation, and improved training for operators. Terminals will progressively address all the measures identified. Terminals also made a brief presentation on its new EPA licence, a copy of which is now on the TGCCC web site (http://tgccc.org) Next meeting of the Committee The next meeting of the Committee is on Monday 10 September 2007. It will be held at Corio Library, Cox Road, Norlane, at 6:00 for 6:30. The focus of the meeting will be on emergency communications to surrounding residents. Robin Saunders Independent Chair