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environmental audit reports, appointed environmental auditors who are highly certificates and statements may be withdrawn or qualified and skilled individuals.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. 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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. I 79 November ZOO4 Ar and Mrs Van Beek 7 Ascot Court I BENALLA VIC 3672 I Dear Mr and Mrs Van Beek, Fucst~rrlh02 8.i.58 1-55 I Re: Environmental Audit of Lend Pursuant to Part lXD of the Ulvironmnt Pmtectjon Act l970 at 47 Wtt Street (Lots 2 and If),Benalla, Victoria 1 am pleased to subrn~tthis Envlronrnental Audit report for a statutory audit of land at 47 Witt Street (Lots 2 and IT), Benalla, Victoria. The Environmental Audit was required by the Benalla Rural City Council prior to the redevelopment of the site for a sensitive land use (including resident~al)as the slte is affected by an Environmental Audit Overlay. As required under Sect~on 53ZB(2) of the Envrronment Protection Act 1970 a copy of the Environmental Aud~tReport has been transmitted to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) A copy of the report has also been kansmitted to the Benalla Rural City Counc~l(both copies provided on CD). On the basis of my evaluation of the site cond~tionsas described in the audit report, I am of the opinion that the condition of the land at 47 Witt Street (Lots 2 and 17), Benalla, Victoria on 5 November 2004 is potentially detrimental to some beneficial uses of the land at the site, precluding the issue Of a Certificate of Envtronmental Audff Therefore, a Statement of Environmental Audit has L been made for the site that it is suitable for the proposed med~umdensity residential development subject to the conditions in the Stafement. 1 An Executive Summary of our key findings and our conclusions are included in the report 1 Should you wsh to discuss any matter regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact me on 03 9690 0522. Yours sincerely Mw? Peter J Rarnsay EPA Appointed Environmental Auctftor - Contaminated Land and Industrial Facilities ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT 19 70 STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT I, Mr Peter J Ramsay of Peter J Ramsay & Associates Pty Ltd, a person appointed by the Environment Protection Authority ("the Authority") under the Environment Protection Act 1970 ("the Act") as an environmental auditor for the purposes of the Act, having:- 1. been requested by Mr Cornelius Van Beek and Mrs Debra Van Beek to issue a Certificate of Environmental Audit in relation to the site located at 47 Witt Street, Benalla, Victoria being the property described as Lots 2 and 17 on Plan of Subdivision No.5240 1, Parish of Benalla, County of Delatite and is defined on Certificate of Titles Volume 9952, Folio 015, and Volume 8561, Folio 636 ('the site') owned by Mr Cornelius Van Beek and Mrs Debra Van Beek; 2. had regard to, amongst other things,- i. guidelines issued by the Authority for the purposes of Part IXD of the Act; ii. the beneficial uses that may be made of the site; and iii, relevant State environment protection policies/industrial waste management policies, namely: State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria); State Environment Protection Policy (Ambient Air Quality); State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality Management); State Environment Protection Policy (Prevention and Management of Contamination of Land); State Environment Protection Policy (Groundwaters of Victoria); Industrial Waste Management Policy (Waste Acid Sulfate Soils); Industrial Waste Management Policy (Prescribed Industrial Waste); in making a total assessment of the nature and extent of any harm or detriment caused to, or the risk of any possible harm or detriment which may be caused to, any beneficial use made of the site by any industrial processes or activity, waste or substance (including any chemical substance); and 3. completed an environmental audit report in accordance with Section 53X of the Act, a copy of which has been sent to the Authority and the relevant planning and responsible authority. HEREBY STATE that I am of the opinio'n that: The site is suitable for the beneficial uses associated with medium density residential, high density residential, commercial and industrial uses subject to the following conditions attached thereto: provided that the entire site (apart from garden beds) is covered by a concrete slab and the garden beds have at a minimum 0.5 m clean fill capping. The condition of the site is detrimental or potentially detrimental to any (one or more) beneficial uses of the site. Accordingly, I have not issued a Certificate of Environmental Audit for the site in its current condition, the reasons for which are presented in the environmental audit report. The terms and conditions that need to be complied with before a Certificate of Environment Audit lnay be issued are set out as follows: Remediation of the soil on the site where the concentrations in the soil exceed the relevant Ecological Investigation Levels. In addition, the near surface fill layer (consisting of coarse crushed rock) on the site would need to be removed. Remediation would be necessary to protect all beneficial uses, unless it can be demonstrated by risk assessment that these areas do not present a risk to all beneficial uses how&er, the near surface fill layer would still require removal. The contaminant concentrations in the soil on the site exceed guideline values which are considered to be protective of all beneficial uses. Page 1 of 3 Other related information: Any fill that is proposed to be removed fiom the site must be tested and disposed of in accordance with EPA requirements (EPA Bulletin No. 448.1 and No. 626) and statutory requirements. Also any backfill imported onto the site must be tested in accordance with EPA Bulletin No. 448.1 to ensure that it is clean fill prior to use on-site. TIm Statement forms part of the environmental audit report prepared by Peter J Ramsay & Associates Pty Ltd, titled Mr and Mrs Van Beek, Environmental Audit of Land Pursuant to Part of the Environment Protection Act 1970, 47 Witt Street (Lots 2 and 17), Benalla, Victoria, November 2004.