A large chemical explosion in Derrimut and industrial fires in Melbourne’s west have prompted residents and community groups to make an urgent legal intervention to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and accuse it of ‘institutional failure’.  

The Anti-Toxic Waste Alliance, a coalition of about 40 community groups and organisations from across Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, has written to the EPA with the support of lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia.

Anti-Toxic Waste Alliance spokesperson Colleen Hartland says:

“Residents never know what’s at the end of the street until it blows up. We’re not told where sites are and we’re not told about the dangers.” 

“I’d like to see the laws enforced, the EPA properly funded so they can do their job and greater transparency about the dangers in our neighbourhoods.”

EJA senior lawyer Virginia Trescowthick says:

“Communities in Melbourne’s west are exposed to high levels of air pollution, well in excess of safe and acceptable levels.”

“The so-called environmental watchdog needs to lift its game. We urge the EPA to use its powers to take proactive measures to prevent harm, rather than turning up after a pollution incident has occurred.”

“When it comes to industrial fires, it is clear that Victoria’s pollution and waste laws are not working as intended.”

Anti-Toxic Waste Alliance says:

• The laws designed to prevent pollution harm to human health and the environment (the Environment Protection Act 2017) are supposed to work through proactive measures before an incident takes place, rather than acting to clean up after a pollution incident has occurred.
• Western suburbs residents are in the dark about activities being undertaken at toxic sites, and what actions – if any – are being taken to minimise the risk to humans and the environment. 
• The community is not adequately informed of the risks of harm to human health or the environment from the firewater runoff.
• The only face-to-face community engagement arising from the Derrimut chemical explosion – via a ‘pop up’ – occurred nine days after the incident.

“It is scandalous that large-scale and catastrophic fires and pollution events continue to occur periodically, if not routinely, across Melbourne’s western suburbs,” the alliance’s legal letter says. 

“In circumstances where two industrial fires have ignited in the space of ten days and, critically, one of those facilities was the subject of EPA compliance and enforcement measures, it is clear that the laws are not working as intended,” it continues.  

Background

The large chemical explosion and fire in Derrimut, in Melbourne's west, on 12 July was one of Victoria’s biggest fires in recent years. In recent weeks there have also been fires at a plastics warehouse facility in the neighbouring suburb of Deer Park, and two fires in the Kinnears factory in Footscray.

One worker died and two were injured in a fire at the same building in Derrimut in October 2023, which houses chemical blending company ACB Group and fuel producer Powerplus. 

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