Licence Number L6462/1992/12
Licence Holder City of Greater Geraldton
File Number: DER2014/001275
Premises
Meru Waste Disposal Facility 61 Landfill Lane
NARNGULU WA 6532 Legal description –
Lot 204 on Plan 403161 and Lot 2268 on Plan 250829
Date of Amendment 16 March 2018
Amendment
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has amended the above Licence in accordance with section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) as set out in this Amendment Notice. This Amendment Notice constitutes written notice of the amendment in accordance with section 59B(9) of the EP Act.
Date signed: 16 March 2018 Steve Checker
MANAGER LICENSING (WASTE INDUSTRIES)
an officer delegated under section 20 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
Amendment Notice 2
Definitions and interpretation Definitions
In this Amendment Notice, the terms in Table 1 have the meanings defined.
Table 1: Definitions
Term Definition
AER Annual Environment Report
Amendment Notice refers to this document Category/ Categories/
Cat.
categories of Prescribed Premises as set out in Schedule 1 of the EP Regulations
CEO means Chief Executive Officer.
CEO for the purposes of notification means:
Director General
Department Administering the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Locked Bag 33 Cloisters Square
PERTH WA 6850
CGG means the City of Greater Geraldton Council/ local government authority
controlled waste As defined in the Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004;
CS Act Contaminated Sites Act 2003 (WA) Delegated Officer an officer under section 20 of the EP Act
Department means the department established under section 35 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and designated as responsible for the administration of Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act.
DWER Department of Water and Environmental Regulation EPA Environmental Protection Authority
EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
EP Regulations Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (WA)
Existing Licence The Licence issued under Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act and in force prior to the commencement of and during this amendment.
hardstand means a surface with a permeability of 1 x 10-9 metres/second or less
IBC Intermediate Bulk Containers with a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 litres
Licence Holder City of Greater Geraldton
Leachate means liquid released by or water that has percolated through waste and which contains some of its constituents;
Long-term irrigation waters
means Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council & Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC & ARMCANZ), Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, 2000 (ANZECC, 2000) guidelines.
mBGL means metres below ground level
mᶟ cubic metres
NEPM National Environmental Protection Measure
Noise Regulations Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (WA)
NPUG Means Department of Health (DoH) 2014 guidelines for Non-potable use guidelines.
Occupier has the same meaning given to that term under the EP Act.
PVC means synthetic plastic polymer products also known as ‘polyvinyl chloride products’
Prescribed Premises has the same meaning given to that term under the EP Act, and known as Meru Waste Disposal Facility.
Premises refers to the premises to which this amendment notice applies, as specified at the front of this amendment notice.
Risk Event as described in Guidance Statement: Risk Assessment
UDR Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 (WA)
WA Waste Strategy means the Western Australian Waste Strategy, Waste Authority 2012
WALGA means the Western Australian Local Government Association Works means the installation of a geomembrane liner within the western
septage pond and construction of associated works within the liquid waste facility, at the prescribed premises.
Amendment Notice
This amendment is made pursuant to section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) to amend the Licence issued under the EP Act for a prescribed premises as set out below. This notice of amendment is given under section 59B(9) of the EP Act.
DWER received two amendment applications from the City of Greater Geraldton (CGG) on 2 January 2018 (CEO6/18) and 3 January 2018 (CEO15/18) in relation to Meru Waste Disposal Facility, located at 61 Landfill Lane, Narngulu, WA (Lot 204 on Plan 403161 and Lot 2268 on Plan 250829).
This amendment notice is limited to an amendment for:
1) Category 61 – liquid waste facility: construction of a geomembrane liner within the western pond; and
2) Category 64 – Class III landfill: inclusion of temporary storage containment for the management of waste paint (controlled waste).
Additional administrative changes have been included within the amendment process by DWER, for the following:
• Updating of premises monitoring locations map;
• Inclusion of additional definitions.
The following guidance statements have informed the decision made on this amendment:
Guidance Statement: Regulatory Principles (July 2015)
Guidance Statement: Setting Conditions (October 2015)
Guidance Statement: Decision Making (February 2017)
Guidance Statement: Risk Assessment (February 2017)
Guidance Statement: Environmental Siting (November 2016)
Amendment description
DWER received two amendment applications for Meru Waste Disposal Facility (L6462/1992/12) for assessment and processing from the Licence Holder, as follows:
1) Amendment application – 2 January 2018 (CEO6/18)
The amendment application was received via email from Bruce Bowman, Bowman &
Associates Pty Ltd (on behalf of the Licence Holder) on 2 January 2018, for the construction of a 2 mm thick geomembrane liner within the existing western septage pond located in the liquid waste facility of the prescribed premises.
Historically the integrity of the pond liners at the liquid waste facility has been queried due to groundwater monitoring data submitted within AER’s reflecting elevated nutrients in
groundwater. The CGG has now identified a concern with the western septage pond and has emptied the pond, removed the sludge (August/ September 2017) and intends to line the pond with a HDPE geomembrane liner (>1 x 10-9 m/s).
The Licence Holder is proposing to reshape the western septage pond (Design capacity of 4,856 m3 - 50m x 47.5 m x 3.5 deep with 1:3 side slopes) which will result in a 5% reduction in capacity of the pond. The CGG identified that the pond is over sized and therefore the small reduction in pond capacity is not expected to significantly impact or change the performance of the pond. The upgrade will result in additional pipework installation for below pond surface pipework to ensure that inflows keep pond crust integrity as an anaerobic pond system.
Historical groundwater contour data submitted by CGG in 2016 identified that elevated
nitrogen levels (34 mg/L) were occurring within MW4/ Bore 1 (down hydraulic gradient, closest bore associated with the western septage pond) as compared with monitoring bores MW1 (23 mg/L, up hydraulic gradient), MW8 and MW6 (14.1 mg/L & 15.8 mg/L respectively, both bores considered cross hydraulic gradient).
Assessment of groundwater monitoring data from 2001 to 2011 undertaken by CGG, as requested by DWER via letter on 16 June 2015, identified the following issues:
• “TDS at MW1 and MW6 showed an increasing trend from 2009 to 2012, with MW6 exceeding Livestock Drinking Water in 2012. Concentrations at MW2 have remained low and stable since 2009. TDS concentrations in MW7 peaked in 2010 peaked and exceeded Domestic Non-potable Groundwater Use and returned to historically low levels;
• Arsenic was stable at all groundwater well locations with the exception of detectable concentrations identified at MW7 in 2006, MW8 in 2010 and MW1 in 2014;
• Manganese was stable at all groundwater well locations with the exception of MW7 (MB2) which spiked in 2006 and exceeded Livestock Drinking Water guidelines. A smaller less significant peak was noted in MW6 during the 2011 reporting period;
• Molybdenum was below laboratory detection limits during the sampling rounds with the exception of MW8 (MB3) between 2004 and 2009, MW7 (MB2) in 2007 and MW1 which has shown an increasing trend from 2009 to 2010 however concentrations fell back down post 2010;
• Potassium at MW4, MW7 and MW8 was relatively stable with the exception of MW7 which spiked in 2010. Concentrations in MW1, MW6 and MW8 have shown an increasing trend. All groundwater samples collected in 2014 remained low however and comparable to historical levels;
• Total nitrogen (N) has fluctuated at all groundwater well locations across the
monitoring period with no obvious trend. Total N in 2014 reported significant increase in concentrations in MB2 (MW7) and MW2 particularly.”
All other monitoring parameters were considered by CGG as ‘stable’ and found to be within acceptable limits and/ or remained below laboratory detection limits, for the majority of the assessment period.
During the 2015 assessment process, CGG committed to undertaking additional monitoring through the installation of additional bores and proposed testing of liner materials at several locations around the facility, if elevated levels persisted.
DWER Review of monitoring data for MW4/ Bore 1 from 2006 to 2014 shows a gradually increasing trend. Elevated parameter levels from up hydraulic gradient bores at the premises may indicate that there are off-site impacts (agricultural land uses) to groundwater occurring.
However, as parameter levels increase from up hydraulic gradient to down hydraulic gradient across the site, it is likely that the prescribed premises is influencing groundwater parameters, potentially from the liquid waste facility.
DWER review of the 2016 Annual Environmental Report identified groundwater monitoring parameter exceedences of the following:
Manganese (MW01) & Nickel (MW02 & MW06), as assessed against Long term irrigation assessment criteria;
Chloride (MW4/ Bore 1) as assessed against NPUG values.
The existing Licence is to be amendment with changes proposed to conditions relating to the Category 61 - Liquid waste facility.
2) Amendment application – 3 January 2018 (CEO15/18)
The amendment application was received via email from Rebecca Brown, Manager Waste &
Recycling (WALGA) on 3 January 2018 (on behalf of the Licence Holder). The application is for the inclusion of temporary storage containment for the management of waste paint (controlled waste) received to the premises.
The Licence Holder is proposing to store waste paint material at the premises on a temporary basis for removal by a controlled waste carrier for recycling. The waste paint will be received from members of the public and commercial painters and stored in bunded containers prior to removal. A maximum throughput capacity of 35 tonnes per annual period is expected with a maximum design capacity of 11 tonnes at any given time to be held at the premises, prior to removal.
The premises will hold a maximum of 20 1000 litre containers (IBCs) and 4 ‘B12’
impermeable plastic-bunded containers.
The Licence Holder may consider expansion of this facility into the future through the
‘Paintback Scheme’ should the need arise. This may result in future amendments to the Licence regarding the temporary paint storage facility design capacity.
The Licence is to be amended with changes to conditions relating to Category 64 – Class III (lined) Landfill.
Amendment history
Table 4 provides the amendment history for L6462/1992/12.
Table 2: Licence amendments
Instrument Issued Amendment
L6462/1992/12 12/01/2017 Amendment Notice 1 – Inclusion of additional categories within the existing licence.
L64621992/12 16/03/2018 Amendment Notice 2 - construction of a HDPE geomembrane liner within the western septage pond of the liquid waste facility and the acceptance of paint for temporary storage at the premises.
Location and receptors
Table 5 below lists the relevant sensitive land uses in the vicinity of the Prescribed Premises which may be receptors relevant to the proposed amendment.
Table 3: Receptors and distance from activity boundary
Residential and sensitive premises Distance from Prescribed Premises
Residential receptor (rural) Approximately 814 m north of the premises boundary Industrial receptors Adjacent and east of premises boundary (within ‘general
industry’ zoned area)
Groundwater bore user (Number: 20002600) Approximately 900 m north of the prescribed premises boundary
Groundwater bore user (Number: 2000601) Approximately 1.15 km south west of the prescribed premises boundary
Table 6 below lists the relevant environmental receptors in the vicinity of the Prescribed Premises which may be receptors relevant to the proposed amendment.
Table 4: Environmental receptors and distance from activity boundary
Environmental receptors Distance from Prescribed Premises
Soil/ land Prescribed premises consists of coastal limestone structure and overlaying podsolised sand eolianite and leached quartz sands.
Groundwater Varies from 17.24 – 21.18 mBGL across the prescribed premises, and with groundwater in the west of the premises varying between 19-20 mBGL.
Surface water (Indian Ocean) Approximately 4 km west of the prescribed premises boundary
Risk assessment
Tables 7 and 8 below describe the Risk Events associated with the amendment consistent with the Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments. Both tables identify whether the emissions present a material risk to public health or the environment, requiring regulatory controls.
Table 5: Risk assessment for proposed amendments during construction
Risk Event
Consequence rating
Likelihood
rating Risk Reasoning Source/Activities Potential
emissions
Potential receptors
Potential pathway
Potential adverse impacts
Cat 61 Liquid waste
facility
Installation of geomembrane liner into western septage pond and
construction of associated infrastructure
Noise:
associated with vehicle
operation Residential sensitive receptors: The closest sensitive (rural) residential receptor is approximately 814 m north of the Premises.
Industrial receptors:
Adjacent to general industry zoned area to the east of the premises boundary.
Air/ Wind
Amenity Minor Possible Medium
Vehicle movement generating noise will be on a short, campaign basis during daylight hours for a limited period of time, only whilst soil material is being removed and compacted.
The premises is located in a rural, low population density area, within an industrial zoned area.
Odour:
associated with the disturbance and removal of liquid waste and pond material
Health/
Amenity Slight Unlikely Low
The pond has already been emptied and all sludge removed during August/ September 2017.
Low to no odour is expected during construction and installation of the liner.
Dust:
associated with construction activities
Amenity Minor Possible Medium
Vehicle movement generating dust will be on a short, campaign basis during daylight hours for a limited period of time, only whilst soil material is being removed and compacted.
The premises is located in a rural, low population density area, within an industrial zoned area.
Leachates/
seepage:
associated with the disturbance and removal of the existing clay liner
Land/ soil:
Groundwater:
infiltration/
percolation of contaminants from liquid waste facility
Soil
Impact to land (nutrient enrichment) and
groundwater dependent ecosystems or
N/A N/A N/A
The western septage pond within the liquid waste facility has been drained and all sludge removed during August/ September 2017.
No leachates/ seepage is
abstraction bore users as a result of contamination
expected during the construction and installation of the HDPE liner. The base of the pond will be compacted and moisture content managed prior to the installation of the new liner.
Table 6: Risk assessment for proposed amendments during operation
Risk Event
Consequence rating
Likelihood
rating Risk Reasoning Source/Activities Potential
emissions
Potential receptors
Potential pathway
Potential adverse impacts
Cat 61 Liquid waste facility
Operation of geomembrane liner in the western septage pond and
associated infrastructure
Noise:
associated with the operation of the western septage pond
Residential sensitive receptors: The closest sensitive (rural) residential receptor is approximately 814 m north of the Premises.
Industrial receptors:
Adjacent to general industry zoned area to the east of the premises boundary.
Air/ Wind Impact to sensitive or industrial receptors
N/A N/A N/A The premises does not
generate noise as a result of operation.
Any noise emissions can be adequately managed through the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997.
Odour:
associated with the filling of the western septage pond
Air/ Wind Minor Unlikely Medium The upgrade of the
septage pond will result in a new discharge point that allows septage to enter the pond below the surface of the pond (anaerobic) so as not to disturb the pond crust assisting in the reduction of odour generation. The pond is located within a low population density, rural environment. Volumes proposed to be received within the pond are low.
The prescribed premises has a significant separation distance to residential
separation distances for Category 61.
Dust:
Particulates as PM10
N/A N/A N/A No fugitive emissions are
proposed from the operation of the liquid waste facility.
Leachates/
seepage:
associated with the operation of the western septage pond
Land/ soil:
Groundwater:
infiltration/
percolation of contaminants from liquid waste facility
Soil
Impact to land (nutrient enrichment) and
groundwater dependent ecosystems or abstraction bore users as a result of contamination
Minor Possible Medium The construction is for the installation of a new low permeability 2 mm HDPE liner to replace the original clay liner.
Hydraulic conductivity of the liner is considered to less than 1 x 10-9 m/s (i.e.
effectively impervious).
The approximate volume of the pond is 4,856 m3 (50m x 47.5 m x 3.5 deep with 1:3 side slopes).
The placement of the fill material, which is required to construct an anchor trench to secure the liner, will reduce the capacity of the pond by 5%. This will effectively reduce the capacity of the pond by 250 m3.
Additional regulatory controls will require that the installation of the liner will comply with DWER’s WQPN 26 (low permeability of 2 x 10-10 m/s) and ongoing groundwater monitoring.
Cat 64 Class III lined landfill
Installation of temporary containment infrastructure for waste paint storage
Waste/
leachates:
associated with spills, leaks and/ or ruptures.
Odour Air/ Wind Health and amenity impacts
Slight Possible Low All temporary containment infrastructure used for the storage of waste paint will be within bunded, sealed containers, placed upon a hardstand area (concrete/
compacted in-situ soils or Land/ soil
Groundwater:
beneficial use –
Seepage of leachate
Impact to land and
groundwater dependent
N/A N/A N/A
abstraction bores ; Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
ecosystems or abstraction bore users as a result of contamination
bitumen). The viscosity of paint also inhibits the ability of it to percolate effectively through the soil profile (predominantly limestone soil type).
The premises complies with EPA guidance for separation distances for Category 64 facilities to sensitive receptors.
Groundwater at the premises is understood to flow east to west towards the Indian Ocean, and forms part of the Greenough River catchment. Groundwater Bore (ID no. 20002600) located within the premises boundary, identifies TDS as approximately 1,901 mg/L (brackish).
The Licensee has
committed to the following:
All containers to be located on a hardstand, have a plastic lining and to be bunded;
Spill kits available at the premises;
Regular visual inspections;
Groundwater monitoring bores (6) will be maintained and operational;
Minimum separation distance of 2 m to the highest level of groundwater will be
Ongoing compliance with conditions W1(a)-(c);
W2(a) and (b); W3 and W4(a)-(e) which relate to the management of stormwater and
wastewater, protection of ground and surface water controls and groundwater bores and monitoring.
Decision
The Delegated Officer has determined that the two applications received in January 2018 are to be undertaken within one amendment notice process for efficiency purposes and to
expedite the amendment process for the Licence Holder.
The Guidance Statement: Decision Making defines Major Amendments as an amendment which may adversely affect the risk of the premises and may include:
Re-describing the boundaries of area of the premises where those changes are likely to have a significant effect on risk;
Adding a discharge or emission point;
Increasing the design capacity, throughput, emissions, or range or quantities of waste permitted; or
Adding a prescribed activity.
The Delegated Officer considers that the proposed changes at the premises, as a result of the two amendment applications submitted, should be undertaken as a major amendment notice process which has resulted in a risk assessment being carried out for the proposed activities (See Tables 7 & 8).
1) Amendment application – 2 January 2018: Septage pond liner installation
The Delegated Officer has determined that the installation of the new HDPE geomembrane liner (replacement of the original clay liner) to the western septage pond at the liquid waste facility is an improvement of the existing operation and should reduce the potential for
leachates/ seepage from the facility operation. This is expected to reduce the potential impact to groundwater from the premises operation, thereby improving groundwater quality below the premises.
Licence Holder controls for the construction of the works are conditioned on the Licence to ensure that the upgrade of the western septage pond at the liquid waste facility is appropriate and in accordance with the EP Act and relevant guidance.
The Delegated Officer considers current groundwater monitoring parameters and sampling requirements adequate for the purposes of monitoring impacts from the premises operation.
The Delegated Officer considers the proposed upgrade to the liquid waste facility as an appropriate measure towards the ongoing maintenance and operation of the facility that will assist in mitigating potential impacts from old infrastructure (continuous improvement). Based on the risk assessment of the proposed upgrade and DWER assessment of the premises operation, the Delegated Officer has granted the proposed amendment to the existing Licence, relating to the installation of the new HDPE geomembrane liner, with the following changes:
Additional definitions: considered administrative changes to the existing Licence;
Inclusion of new condition - Construction Conditions C1 to C5, and Table 1: ‘Works specifications’ for the design and construction of the upgraded septage pond:
considered appropriated and risk-based in accordance with the EP Act;
Replacement of the old premises monitoring locations map: Map of Groundwater monitoring bore locations: considered appropriate and relevant to proposed amendment as an administrative change.
2) Amendment application – 3 January 2018: Waste paint
The Delegated Officer considers the waste paint recycling initiative as an effective approach to addressing waste issues within the City of Greater Geraldton and aligning recycling efforts to the WA Waste Strategy.
The Delegated Officer has determined that the applicant proposed controls are appropriate and adequate for the ongoing management and mitigation of potential discharges (accidental) as a result of the operation of the waste paint storage area.
The Delegated Officer further defines the following subsidiary legislation as applicable for the operation of the new storage area:
1. Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004;
2. Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004.
The Delegated Officer has also identified that the premises is currently receiving and
temporarily storing waste oil for recycling however the existing Licence does not cater for the acceptance and storage of hydrocarbons. The Delegated Officer has determined that an inclusion within the existing Licence for the acceptance and storage of hydrocarbons (waste oil) will be undertaken as part of this amendment process as this activity is currently occurring at the premises, under the same controls as the waste paint. The additional changes to the existing Licence were discussed with the Licence Holder via email on 17 January 2018.
The Delegated Officer has granted the proposed amendment to the existing Licence, for the installation of a waste paint temporary storage facility at the landfill, with the following
changes:
Additional definitions: considered an administrative change;
Amendment of condition G1(a): considered an administrative change for clarification;
Inclusion of a new condition - Condition G1(d) and Table 2: for waste acceptance for the receipt and temporary storage of waste paint and waste hydrocarbons (oil)
(controlled waste): considered appropriate and risk-based in accordance with the EP Act;
Inclusion of a new condition - Condition G1(e) for waste not meeting waste acceptance and storage criteria: considered appropriate and risk-based in accordance with the EP Act;
New map identifying the location of the waste paint receival, stockpile / storage areas:
considered appropriate and relevant to proposed amendment as an administrative change.
Licence Holder’s comments
The Licence Holder was provided with the draft Amendment Notice on 21 February 2018. A response was received form the Licence Holder, on 14 March 2018 confirming that the amendment was to proceed with no additional comments or changes.
Amendment
1. Definitions of the existing Licence is amended by the insertion of the red text shown in underline below:
Term Definition
CEO
means Chief Executive Officer.CEO for the purposes of notification means:
Director General
Department Administering the Environmental Protection Act 1986
Locked Bag 33 Cloisters Square PERTH WA 6850
controlled waste As defined in the Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004;
CS Act Contaminated Sites Act 2003 (WA) Delegated Officer an officer under section 20 of the EP Act
Department means the department established under section 35 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and designated as responsible for the administration of Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act.
DWER Department of Water and Environmental Regulation EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
EP Regulations Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (WA)
Existing Licence The Licence issued under Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act and in force prior to the commencement of and during this
amendment.
hardstand means a surface with a permeability of 1 x 10
-9metres/second or less
Licence Holder City of Greater Geraldton
leachate means liquid released by or water that has percolated through waste and which contains some of its constituents;
Long-term irrigation waters
means Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council & Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC & ARMCANZ),
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine
Water Quality, 2000 (ANZECC, 2000) guidelines.
mᶟ cubic metres
Noise Regulations Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (WA) NPUG Means Department of Health (DoH) 2014 guidelines for Non-
potable use guidelines.
PVC means synthetic plastic polymer products also known as
‘polyvinyl chloride products’
Prescribed Premises
has the same meaning given to that term under the EP Act.
Premises refers to the premises to which this Decision Report applies, as specified at the front of this Decision Report.
Risk Event as described in Guidance Statement: Risk Assessment UDR Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges)
Regulations 2004 (WA)
Works means the installation of a geomembrane liner within the western septage pond and construction of associated works within the liquid waste facility, at the prescribed premises.
WQPN 26 means the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Water Quality Protection Note 26: Liners for containing pollutants, using synthetic membranes
2. The Licence is amended by the insertion of the red text shown in underline below:
CONSTRUCTION CONDITIONS
C1 The Licence Holder must ensure that the proposed Works specified in Column 1 of Table 1 are designed and constructed to meet or exceed the specifications in Column 2 of Table 1 for the infrastructure in each row of Table 1.
C2 The Licence Holder must not depart from the specifications in Table 1 except:
(a) where such departure is minor in nature and does not materially change or affect the infrastructure; or
(b) where such departure does not increase risks to public health, public amenity or the environment;
and all other Conditions in this Licence are still satisfied.
Table 1: Works specifications
Column 1 Column 2
Specifications (design and construction) Infrastructure
1. General The Licence Holder must ensure that:
a) Works are not carried out outside of the following operational hours:
• 7:30 to 16:30 – Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and Public Holidays;
b) Haul roads, fill material and spoil stockpiles are to be kept damp during operational hours.
2. Geomembrane liner installation
The Licence Holder must ensure that the liner:
a) is placed on the base of the existing location of the western septage pond area, and is to be cleared of any sludge/ debris and
compacted, prior to laying of the liner;
b) base fill material is compacted using a 12 tonne padfoot roller or greater to achieve horizontal layers not exceeding 200 mm in thickness after compaction;
c) base fill material is tested against AS1289 for standard compaction minimum dry density ratio and optimum moisture content;
d) base fill material is clear of indentations and desiccation cracks;
e) is secured via anchor trenches that are backfilled and compacted using a vibrating plate compactor in 250 mm thick layers, after compaction;
f) is not less than 2 mm thick, consisting of new HDPE geomembrane liner;
g) is welded at all joins and/ or penetrations to ensure the liner is completed sealed;
h) complies with WQPN 26 – Liners for containing pollutants, using synthetic membranes;
i) is installed according to Appendix A - construction specifications, as prepared by Bowman & Associates Pty Ltd, dated 13 December 2017.
3. Western septage pond
The Licence Holder must ensure that the upgraded septage pond:
a) includes a below surface inlet pipe for incoming septage to ensure that the anaerobic crust on the pond is not disrupted, when in full operation.
4. Associated works
The Licence Holder must undertake, construct and/ or install the following:
a) Removal of the existing septage extraction sump and footing;
b) Modifications to the reinforced concrete floor in the discharge shed;
c) Installation of a 225 mm PVC pipe in the base of the discharge sluice and sealed to the HDPE geomembrane liner;
d) Replacement of the reinforced concrete sluice structure to a reinforced concrete end wall into a pit;
e) Installation of two transfer pipes.
Table 1: Works specifications
Column 1 Column 2
Specifications (design and construction) Infrastructure
5. Hydrocarbon storage and management
The Licence Holder must ensure that all hydrocarbons:
a) are located in impervious vessels on a bunded, hardstand surface or within an impervious self bunded tank;
b) are managed in accordance with AS1940;
c) are located in a designated area, away from any flammable/
combustible sources;
d) used for the refuelling of vehicles to be done over a bunded hardstand area for the capture and containment of any spills;
e) stored at the premises are fully lockable.
C3 If any departures from the specifications in Table 1 occur, then the Licence Holder must provide the CEO with a list of departures which are certified as complying with Condition C2 at the same time as the certifications under Condition C5.
C4 The Licence Holder must submit a construction compliance document to the CEO, within one month, following the construction of the Works and prior to operating the new works at the premises.
C5 The Licence Holder must ensure the construction compliance document:
(a) is certified by a suitably qualified professional engineer or builder that each item of infrastructure specified in Condition C2, Table 1 has been constructed in accordance with the Conditions of the Licence with no material defects; and (b) be signed by a person authorised to represent the Licence Holder and contain
the printed name and position of that person within the company.
3. The Licence is amended by the insertion of the following within Condition G1(a):
G1(a) The Licence Holder shall accept and bury only the following types of waste at the premises:
(i) clean fill;
(ii) liquid wastes (septage waste to septage ponds);
(iii) inert waste type 1;
(iv) inert waste type 2 (storage and transfer of used, rejected or unwanted tyres);
(v) putrescible wastes;
(vi) special waste type 1 (asbestos wastes);
(vii) special wastes type 2 (biomedical waste which is approved for supervised burial);
and
(viii) other wastes that comply with Class III criteria in the document entitled ‘Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996 (As amended 2009)’.
4. The Licence is amended by the insertion of the following Condition G1(d) shown in red text in underline below:
G1(d) The Licence Holder shall only accept waste for temporary storage at the Premises if:
(i) it is of a type listed in Table 2;
(ii) the quantity accepted is at or below any quantity limit listed in Table 2;
(iii) it meets any specification listed in Table 2; and
(iv) in the case of contaminated solid waste is supported by documentation that demonstrates compliance with the acceptance criteria for Class III landfills.
Table 2: Waste acceptance and storage
Waste Quantity Limit Specification1 Liquid waste
(paint)
302,535 tonnes
combined per annual period
1. Limited to accepting waste paint for temporary storage and disposal off-site through an appropriate facility
2. Limited to accepting a maximum annual throughput of 35 tonnes with a maximum of 11 tonnes stored onsite at any given time.
3. All liquid waste to be contained within bunded containment and placed on a low permeability hardstand.
Contaminated solid waste
1. Limited to accepting waste hydrocarbons (used grease) hydrocarbon contaminated soils, hydrocarbon contaminated waste cake, oily rags, hydrocarbon contaminated plastics (excluding polyvinyl chloride products), used oil filters.
Hazardous waste 1. Limited to accepting hydrocarbons in the form of waste oil;
2. Contained within a self-bunded tank or tank placed on a bunded hardstand area;
3. For final disposal to off-site recycling facility only.
4. E-waste accepted for storage and recycling/
reuse.
Inert waste type 1 1. Scrap metal accepted for storage and recycling/ reuse.
Inert waste type 2 1,000 tyres per annual period
1. Maximum of 1,000 tyres to be stored at any given time, for reuse/ recycling.
Note 1: Additional requirements for the acceptance of controlled waste (including paint) are set out in the Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004.
5. The Licence is amended by the insertion of the following condition G1(e) shown in red text in underline below:
G1(e) The Licence Holder shall ensure that where waste does not meet the waste
acceptance criteria set out in condition G1(d) it is removed from the Premises by the delivery vehicle or, where that is not possible, the Licence Holder shall contact the CEO to agree a course of action in relation to the waste.
6. The Licence is amendment by the deletion of ‘Attachment 3: Premises bore locations’
map and the insertion of the following new map of monitoring bore locations, as shown below:
Map of groundwater monitoring bore locations
7. The Licence is amended by the insertion of ‘Attachment 4: Map of paint receival, stockpile/ storage area’ as shown below:
Appendix 1: Key documents
Document title In text ref Availability
1 Email: Licence amendment for L6462/1992/12 – Meru Waste Disposal Facility in Geraldton. Sent by Bruce Bowman on 2 January 2018.
L6462/1992/12 Drop Box
DWER record (A1587867)
2 Email: Licence amendment for L6462/1992/12 from Bowman Associates (Pty) Ltd sent 2 January 2018 with three attachments:
L6462/1992/12
DWER record (A1587866)
Attachment 2 – MLSK11 13-12-17 [3] DWER record (A1587874) Attachment 3A – 171213 – CoGG
Licence
DWER record (A1587875) DWER Application Form_Septage1 DWER record (A1587876) 3 Emails: Request for further
information sent by DWER – responses received.
Meru Waste Disposal Facility
DWER records (A1597101/
A1595171/ A1596939)
4 Email: Licence amendment
application. Sent by Rebecca Brown on 3 January 2018, with two
attachments:
WALGA
DWER records (A1588420)
Geraldton Amendment Application
Attachment. -
Geraldton Amendment Application.
- 5 Email: Reuse/ Recycle products
(request for further information sent by DWER relating to additional stored wastes).
17/01/2018
DWER record
6 Letter: Meru Landfill Elevated Nutrient Levels, from Mark Wong - CGG, dated 13 July 2015.
Meru Landfill – Annual Environmental Report – Groundwater Contours Map (GHD), Figure 3.
D-15-41142 Job # 61- 314210 20 January 2015
DWER record (A1141109)
7 Email: Meru Landfill – Desludge of Septic Pond from Jess Felix, City of Greater Geraldton, 14 August 2017.
Email: RE: Meru Landfill – Desludge
Licence amendment
DWER records (A1509878/
A1510622)
of Septic pond. Response by Steve Checker, DWER sent 23 August 2017.
8 Email: Meru Waste Disposal Facility:
L6462/1992/12 – Annual
Environmental Report 2016. Talis, February 2017.
TE16051-Meru Landfill
AER_2016.2b
DWER Record (A1385064)
9 DER, July 2015. Guidance Statement:
Regulatory principles. Department of
Environment Regulation, Perth. DER 2015a
accessed at www.dwer.wa.gov.au
10 DER, October 2015. Guidance Statement: Setting conditions.
Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.
DER 2015b
11 DER, November 2016. Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments.
Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.
DER 2016b
12 DER, November 2016. Guidance Statement: Decision Making.
Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.
DER 2016c
13 Email: RE: L6462 Meru WDF
Amendment 21day Draft amendment waiver) received from Hayley
Williamson, CGG on 14 March 2018.
-
DWER record (A1633982)
