The Country Fire Authority, Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority and Worksafe will go under the microscope as the state government’s inquiry into Fiskville extends into next year.
The Fiskville firefighters’ training base was closed in March because of chemical contamination linked to health complaints by residents and former CFA employees.
An independent report, released in June, urged the government to thoroughly test nearby land and livestock for exposure to the chemical PFOS used for firefighting.
Hearings will continue until March 31.
Chairwoman of the State Parliament’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee Bronwyn Halfpenny said the investigation was ongoing and would inform the next phase of the committee’s inquiry.
“Since tabling its interim report, the committee has reviewed extensive documents and material to assist its understanding of what happened at Fiskville,” she said.
“Critical questions are emerging that the committee wants to put to key organisations, which include … the CFA, the EPA and WorkSafe.”
Further hearings start on October 19 and continue into November and early December.
“The committee will start by hearing from key experts with knowledge about toxic chemicals and hazardous materials to increase our understanding of the health effects of the pollutants people at Fiskville have been exposed to and their effects on the environment,” Ms Halfpenny said.
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