Three agencies are investigating an alleged illegal dumping of waste materials from the demolition of the old Devonport Maternity Hospital.
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The Environmental Protection Agency, and the Central Coast and Devonport City Councils are investigating what has been described as a ‘complex issue’, in which it emerged that demolition waste was being carted to a private property at Forth for disposal.
The two councils became aware only on Monday that the property owner had no permit to receive the rubble.
In a related incident, Tasmania Police have charged a 35 year old Forth man with one count of common assault and one count of stealing. He was bailed to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court on March 20.
An EPA officer went to the Forth property for an inspection on Tuesday, but was not able to finish the job.
“At this point it appears that the matter will be an issue for [Central Coast] council but the EPA is providing advice,” an EPA spokesman said.
“Completion of the site inspection is likely to take place in the coming days.”
The Devonport City Council said the Forth property owner had answered an advertisement to receive the waste, which was carted by MyTrax Excavations.
The Launceston-based company was sub-contracted by Mendelssohn Construction, which is in charge of the demolition. The MyTrax sub-contract was solely for disposal of non-hazardous material from the site, and the project was due to finish within a few weeks.
It is understood that all parties to the disposal activity believed the property owner had a valid permit to receive the building rubble.
Mendelssohn Construction director Trent Mendelssohn said as soon as he found out on Tuesday there was no valid permit for the Forth property, he ordered the sub-contractor, MyTrax, to take the waste to a quarry about three kilometres from the private property.
MyTrax declined to comment.
Central Coast Council general manager Sandra Ayton said on Tuesday the Devonport City Council found out about the permit issue on January 15.
“It immediately contacted the demolition contractor and requested they cease disposing of the material at this site. It is understood that despite this request, dumping did continue on [January 16]. This has once again been followed up with the contractor and an assurance was given it has now ceased.”
Mr Mendelssohn confirmed there was no hazardous material in the waste that had been dumped on the private property.
“It’s just building rubble - bricks. It’s not uncommon for rural properties to take demolition waste - mostly filling up paddocks and valleys and levelling out properties.”
He said demolition of some 900 tonnes of asbestos contaminated material from the hospital site would start before the end of January.
“We have to finalise a few things with WorkSafe Tasmania and the (Devonport City) Council. There are 900 tonnes being disposed of as asbestos.”
The asbestos will be taken to the Dulverton waste transfer station.
