The Tottenham Remediation Project
In 2018 an industrial warehouse facility in Tottenham, Melbourne caught fire, sending plumes of black smoke across the city, in what would become one of Melbourne’s most significant fire events.
The fire, which burned for nearly two weeks, left behind a tangled pile of collapsed warehouse, friable asbestos roofing and millions of litres of waste, including drums, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), acetylene cylinders and other toxic waste.
Once the fire was extinguished, the site was revealed to comprise a clandestine dangerous goods storage facility, illegally storing chemicals of an unknown nature and quantity.
WorkSafe Victoria exercised its statutory powers under the Dangerous Goods Act (1985) in November 2019 to take any necessary action to ensure the safe removal and disposal of dangerous goods, after the site duty holder failed to comply with WorkSafe and EPA clean up notices.
What followed was one of the most complex, hazardous and high profile remediation clean-up projects in the state’s history.
Michael Eather and Sarina Serovski (former WorkSafe Victoria), were charged with management of the remediation project, and oversaw everything from the engagement of specialist contractors, the development of the occupational hygiene management plan, to the final sign off after formal remediation.
Please join us at the July Chapter Meeting to hear directly from Michael and Sarina how they navigated the challenges of the project and successfully delivered the remediated site.
