Brimbank City Council is pleased with the EPA’s decision to revoke the operating licence of Barro Group, owners of the Sunshine landfill at Kealba.
The decision means landfill operations at the site will now permanently cease.
It marks the end of a seven-year battle by Council under the passionate leadership of Brimbank Mayor Cr Virginia Tachos in partnership with many local community leaders and advocates.
Since underground fires started at the landfill in 2019, Council has strongly advocated to the Victorian Government and EPA to remove the Barro Group’s licence to operate the landfill.
In December last year, the EPA notified the Barro Group of its intention to suspend its licence.
Brimbank Mayor Cr Virginia Tachos welcomed the EPA’s decision saying it was long overdue.
“This is a significant win for our residents and the local environment, but it’s come at a significant cost.
“For seven years, Council and the community have been working hard to hold this irresponsible and dangerous operator to account.
“It’s taken a strong and sustained grassroots community effort get to this point and we’re pleased that the EPA have now acted decisively.
“I want to thank all those concerned residents, including those most impacted by this site, who have campaigned tirelessly on this issue.
“This decision finally gives our community some long-awaited certainty and we look forward to the EPA following through on its commitment to make sure the remaining hotspot is extinguished and the site fully remediated.
“Council looks forward to discussing alternative future plans for the site with Barro Group when they are ready to do so.”
