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Submission re Draft Classification (Contaminated Soil)
The Property Council of Australia welcomes the opportunity to comment on the proposed classification for contaminated soils recently issued by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). The Property Council also thanks the EPA for allowing these comments after the submission date.
In representing Victoria’s major property stakeholders, the Property Council’s key concern is the potential outcomes from specific elements of the Industrial Waste Management Policy such as the draft classifications proposed for contaminated soils. The Property Council looks forward to working with Government to realise effective and achievable outcomes that balance the economic, environmental and social needs of the wider community.
The Property Council respects the Government’s obligation to protect remaining space available at landfills, as well as to develop new policy and procedures to avoid and reduce the amount of materials going to landfill in the future. There is no argument that contaminated soils represent a significant volume of materials going to landfill – however, Government needs to work with industry to ensure that new measures adopt constructive and efficient interim processes that will not result in economic hardship and/or compromise environmental standards.
