cleanup_224 oz landfill buffers - audio track
TRANSCRIPT
Landfill Gas & Development Approvals: Regulatory Requirements in Australian JurisdictionsPhil Sinclair
Acknowledge contributions from my Coffey colleagues NSW Landfill guru Sam Gunasekera, Victoria Landfills gurus; Sarah Richards, Tim Marshall and Nick Woodford- State regulators in a number of jurisdictions for their assistance1
This is not Brookland GreensWednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for Clean Up 20132
400mParkMy place
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Brookland GreensWednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for Clean Up 20133
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Brookland GreensWednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for Clean Up 20134
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Victorian Guidelines - 2010Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 20135Buffer distances between Landfills and ReceptorsReceptorLandfill CategoryType 2 (Putrescible)Type 3 (Solid Inert)Surface waters 100 m 100 mLanding grounds and airfields (piston aircraft)1500 m1500 mLanding grounds and airfields (jet aircraft)3000 m3000 mBuildings and Structures 500 m 200 m
- - the buffers are measured from the sensitive land use to the edge of the closest cell.They should also consider other activities that can cause nuisance, e.g. leachate ponds
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Queensland
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 20136Indicative Buffer DistancesReceptorLandfill TypePutrescibleNon-putrescibleSurface waters / 100 year flood plain; 100 m 100 mLanding grounds and airfields (piston aircraft)1500 m1500 mLanding grounds and airfields (jet aircraft)3000 m3000 mUnstable area 100 m 100 mNoise, dust or odour sensitive place 500 m 200 m
Environmental Protection Regulation 2008; ERA 60; landfill; siting; operation; rehabilitation; EM2319
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New South Wales
As with most jurisdictions, control is focussed on the source site, less so on adjacent landA landfill should not be within 250 m of a residenceIf development proposed within buffer, developer must mitigate gas impactRecords of historic, licensed municipal landfills are reasonable to goodRecords for historic, privately run landfills, not as completeDevelopment consents are needed for remediation. Unclear if installing gas mitigation in the buffer zone = remediation and requires consentIf methane in buffer zone >1.25%v/v, an EMP is required
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 20137
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Tasmanian Guidelines - 2004
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 20138Distance between Landfills and Sensitive ReceptorsReceptorLandfill CategoryA (Solid Inert)B (Putrescible)C (Secure)Permanentwatercourses(excluding farm dams) 50 m 100 m 100 mLanding grounds and airfields10,000 m10,000 m10,000 mResidences 300 m 500 m 500 m
- - - the regulator and planning authority should ensure both the landfill and the receptor are constructed and managed using appropriate impact attenuation technologies.
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South Australian Advice: Development near Landfills - 2012
SA EPA Information Sheet for planning authorities, landfill owners and developersSA EPA commits to provide adviceDevelopment is defined as a building or enclosure that may accumulate gasSets a buffer distance of 500m for all existing or closed landfillsAdvises what qualifications are needed for risk assessment of LFG for:
- a landfill 26,000 tonnes a site contamination auditor as per EP Act 1993SA EPA is a referral authority for development approvals in the SA planning system
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 20139
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Western Australia
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 201310Landfills Recommended buffer distances to sensitive useLandfill typeWaste typeRecommended distanceClass IInert150m from single dwellingClass II or IIIPutrescible500m from residential developmentClass II or IIIPutrescible150m from single dwellingClass IVSecureCase by caseClass VIntractable waterCase by case
Rehabilitation or Aftercare Plan may be needed for closed landfillsGlobal review of landfill regulation and waste levies (Aug 2012) did not look at development of land near landfills BPEM (draft) 2005 sets buffer distances
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So back to NorthcoteWednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for Clean Up 201311
500m QLD, SA, TAS, VIC
250m NSW150m WAHome
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Summing up
Regulatory control of landfill gas-related impacts are predominantly (and appropriately) focussed on source sitesSome controls in buffer zones around landfills relate to residences, others to buildings and structures that could accumulate gasPlanning controls for buffer zones around LFG sites are poorly developed and inconsistentSome jurisdictions have better records of where former landfills are located than othersAnother incident like Brookland Greens could occur again
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 201312
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Recommendations
Develop a national, risk-based approach to assessing development within a defined buffer zone of existing and former landfillsPlanning approval should be for a building or enclosure that may accumulate gas (as far as planning processes allow)Develop a national guideline or Australian Standard; say like the aircraft noise standard for Building Siting and ConstructionGeographic Information Systems seem suited to the problemPerhaps a role for the CRC CARE in developing these guidelines and standards?
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 201313
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Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for Clean Up 201314Thank you
Send any questions to
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BEST PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
SITING, DESIGN, OPERATION AND REHABILITATION OF LANDFILLS
Publication 788.1* September 2010
EPA Victoria
200 Victoria Street, Carlton
Victoria 3053 AUSTRALIA
EPA Victoria 2010
* This replaces publication 788, released October 2001.
BEST PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
SITING, DESIGN, OPERATION AND REHABILITATION OF LANDFILLS
Publication 788.1* September 2010
EPA Victoria
200 Victoria Street, Carlton
Victoria 3053 AUSTRALIA
EPA Victoria 2010
* This replaces publication 788, released October 2001.