UPDATE: It’s hoped a public information session tomorrow night in Bacchus Marsh will allay fears about an industrial bi product being stockpiled at a Rowsley industrial site.
The Weekly had initially been informed by council’s Environmental Health Coordinator via the Moorabool Environmental Group that the product Hi Cal 40 would ‘‘pose a risk to public health’’ to the community following an investigation with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Several residents had also made complaints to council late last year about dust coming off trucks transporting the product to the site in Albys Lane. However council later clarified that the product was indeed safe.
The company which produces Hi Cal 40 for export, Regaine director Bernie Cooper said it was a ‘‘mineralised carbon’’, or an industrial biproduct that was used in cement and was transported wet in fully covered trucks and was closely monitored to ensure it did not go airborne.
He said the company had received no complaints and had consulted 19 people in the local area after it bought the land in the second half of last year. It began stockpiling the product just after Christmas.
Moorabool Environmental Group spokesperson Deb Porter said residents have been demanding the release of the chemical analysis of the product.
An EPA spokesperson said they had visited the site to confirm the storage of HiCal40 and ensured adequate environmental controls are in place to contain the materials.
‘‘A series of dust control measures are in place on the site, including wetting down and coverage of the product in storage. Monitoring of the site continues,’’ he said.
The information session will be held at the Quamby Centre, Bacchus Marsh at 7pm Thursday night.
