The Audit Report and Appendices As Presented in the Hardcopy Format
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INFORMATION REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT REPORTS August 2007 VICTORIA’S AUDIT SYSTEM AUDIT REPORT CURRENCY An environmental audit system has operated in Audit reports are based on the conditions encountered Victoria since 1989. The Environment Protection Act and information reviewed at the time of preparation 1970 (the Act) provides for the appointment by the and do not represent any changes that may have Environment Protection Authority (EPA Victoria) of occurred since the date of completion. As it is not environmental auditors and the conduct of possible for an audit to present all data that could be independent, high quality and rigorous environmental of interest to all readers, consideration should be audits. made to any appendices or referenced documentation An environmental audit is an assessment of the for further information. condition of the environment, or the nature and extent When information regarding the condition of a site of harm (or risk of harm) posed by an industrial changes from that at the time an audit report is process or activity, waste, substance or noise. issued, or where an administrative or computation Environmental audit reports are prepared by EPA- error is identified, environmental audit reports, appointed environmental auditors who are highly certificates and statements may be withdrawn or qualified and skilled individuals. amended by an environmental auditor. Users are Under the Act, the function of an environmental advised to check EPA’s website to ensure the currency auditor is to conduct environmental audits and of the audit document. prepare environmental audit reports. Where an environmental audit is conducted to determine the PDF SEARCHABILITY AND PRINTING condition of a site or its suitability for certain uses, an environmental auditor may issue either a certificate or EPA Victoria can only certify the accuracy and statement of environmental audit. correctness of the audit report and appendices as presented in the hardcopy format. EPA is not A certificate indicates that the auditor is of the opinion responsible for any issues that arise due to problems that the site is suitable for any beneficial use defined with PDF files or printing. in the Act, whilst a statement indicates that there is some restriction on the use of the site. Except where PDF normal format is specified, PDF files are scanned and optical character recognised by Any individual or organisation may engage appointed machine only. Accordingly, while the images are environmental auditors, who generally operate within consistent with the scanned original, the searchable the environmental consulting sector, to undertake hidden text may contain uncorrected recognition environmental audits. The EPA administers the errors that can reduce search reliability. Therefore, environmental audit system and ensures its ongoing keyword searches undertaken within the document integrity by assessing auditor applications and may not retrieve all references to the queried text. ensuring audits are independent and conducted with regard to guidelines issued by EPA. This PDF has been created using the Adobe-approved method for generating Print Optimised Output. To assure proper results, proofs must be printed, rather AUDIT FILES STRUCTURE than viewed on the screen. Environmental audit reports are stored digitally by This PDF is compatible with Adobe Acrobat Reader EPA in three parts: the audit report (part A), report Version 4.0 or any later version which is downloadable appendices (part B) and, where applicable, the free from Adobe’s Website, www.adobe.com. certificate or statement of environmental audit and an executive summary (part C). A report may be in colour FURTHER INFORMATION and black-and-white formats. Generally, only black- and-white documents are text searchable. For more information on Victoria’s environmental Report executive summaries, findings and audit system, visit EPA’s website or contact EPA’s recommendations should be read and relied upon only Environmental Audit Unit. in the context of the document as a whole, including Web: www.epa.vic.gov.au/envaudit any appendices and, where applicable, any certificate Email: [email protected] or statement of environmental audit. 1 of 145 REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT AREA A - WEST MELBOURNE GASWORKS SITE for Docklands Authority Ref: CH\S:\Projects\37858\005\Audit rep A\GasworksAuditRepRevO.doc February 2002 2 of 145 m DAMES & MOORE PT~LTD A DAMES & MOORE COMPANY URS House 658 Church Street Richmond, Vic 3121 61-3-9279 2888 Tel 61-3-9279 2850 Fax 28 February 2002 Ref: CH\\\MELl\PROJECTS~ojectsU7858\005\Auditrep A\GasworksAuditRepRevO.doc Docklands Authority AFL House, 140 Harbour Esplanade DOCKLANDS, VICTORIA 3008 Attention: Tom Graze Dear Tom ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT REPORT AREA A - WEST MELBOURNE GASWORKS SITE As discussed with Glenn Dixon, please find attached our report on the Environmental Audit of Area A of the former West Melbourne Gasworks site prepared in accordance with Section 53W of the Environment Protection Act 1970. In accordance with Section 12.6 of the Environmental Auditor Guidelines, a copy of this report is also provided directly to the EPA of Victoria, and a second copy on CD to the Docklands Authority as the representative Local Government Authority for its records. We trust this meets with your requirements. However, if you have any queries or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us on 9279 2888. Yours faithfully Ken Mival Environmental Auditor (Contaminated Land) DAMES & MOORE PTY LTD ACN 003 293 696 Offices Worldwide 3 of 145 “Though manufactured gas plant facilities have long ago been decommissioned, the sites upon which they stood serve today as a constructive focal point of dialogue between industry and the regulatory community regarding site characterisation, the assessment of risk, and the implementation of management alternatives that effectively protect public health and contribute positively to community development” “Management of Manufactured Gas Plant Sites: The Gas Research Institute’s Two Volume Practical Reference Guide” Thomas D. Hayes et al. 1996, Amherst Scientific Publishers, Massachusetts. 4 of 145 Report Revision 0 Environmental Audit, Area A – West Melbourne Gasworks Site February 2002 for Docklands Authority Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................12 1.1 PURPOSE OF REPORT ..........................................................................................................................14 1.2 PARTIES INVOLVED ............................................................................................................................14 2. AUDIT GUIDELINES ...............................................................................................................................15 3. SCOPE OF AUDIT ....................................................................................................................................18 4. DOCUMENTS REVIEWED .....................................................................................................................19 5. SITE DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................22 5.1 SITE LOCATION & DESCRIPTION..........................................................................................................22 5.2 ON-SITE ACTIVITIES AND USES............................................................................................................23 5.3 NEIGHBOURING LAND USES ................................................................................................................23 5.4 GEOLOGY & HYDROGEOLOGY ............................................................................................................24 5.4.1 Geology....................................................................................................................................24 5.4.2 Hydrogeology ..........................................................................................................................25 5.5 SITE CHARACTERISTICS......................................................................................................................32 5.5.1 Topography & Drainage ..........................................................................................................32 5.5.2 Natural Watercourses...............................................................................................................32 5.5.3 Vegetation................................................................................................................................32 5.5.4 Buildings..................................................................................................................................32 5.5.5 Underground Structures ...........................................................................................................32 5.6 SITE HISTORY .....................................................................................................................................33 5.7 PREVIOUS INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES UNDERTAKEN ON-SITE .................................................................34 5.8 BY-PRODUCTS AND WASTES GENERATED............................................................................................35 5.8.1 Gas Production and Heat Recovery; & Tar/Oil/Water Separation...........................................36