EPA Approves New Woodchip Plant for Bell Bay

Media release – Environment Protection Authority (EPA), 6 April 2022

EPA considers proposal for Woodchip Processing Plant, Bell Bay Industrial Precinct

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by Midway Tasmania for a woodchip mill at Bell Bay in George Town Council municipality.

The proposal is to construct and operate a new woodchip mill with capacity to produce up to 500,000 green metric tonnes of woodchips per annum in the Bell Bay Industrial Precinct.

The Executive Director, Environmental Assessments, Martin Read, who made the determination under delegation from the EPA Board, concluded the proposed development can be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with certain conditions. The Board requires these conditions to be included in any permit subsequently granted by the George Town Council.

“Various environmental issues were considered by the Board in its assessment, particularly the potential for noise impacts on nearby sensitive receptors from operation of mobile wood chipping equipment.  The proposal includes a number of management measures to mitigate this, including only day time operation of wood chipping equipment, and installation of a 4.8m acoustic barrier around the mobile chipper and screen assemblies,” Martin Read said.

One representation was received in relation to the permit application. The environmental issues raised in the representation were primarily with respect to the cumulative impact of noise and dust from Bell Bay Industrial Precinct in the broader Tamar area. Public consultation was open for a period greater than 28 days period commencing on 27 November 2022, to take into account the Christmas to New Year holiday period.  The public consultation period ended on 10 January 2022.

The proposal was considered by the Executive Director, Environmental Assessments in the context of the sustainable development objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System of Tasmania (RMPS), and in the context of the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control System (EMPCS) established by the EMPC Act.

The functions of the EPA are to administer and enforce the provisions of the EMPC Act, to further the RMPS and EMPCS objectives and, in particular, to use its best endeavours to protect the environment of Tasmania.

The Executive Director, Environmental Assessments undertook the assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Principles defined in Section 74 of the Act.

The environmental assessment report, including the environmental conditions, has been issued to Midway Tasmania Pty Ltd and George Town Council for their information.

The decision in relation to Midway Tasmania Pty Ltd’s proposed woodchip processing facility can be viewed here.

Interim approved management method for clean fill disposal

With the commencement of the Waste and Resource Recovery Act 2022 (WRRA) on 29 March 2022, consequential amendments have also been made to the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA) and the Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Waste Management) Regulations 2020, relating to clean fill.

Clean fill is a category of general waste that is often produced through the excavation of soil and/or construction and demolition activities.  These amendments cause changes to the regulation of clean fill.

There is new definition in section 3 of EMPCA which specifies clean fill type 1 (natural materials) and clean fill type 2 (construction materials).  Clean fill is no longer exempt from waste regulation, and both types can only be disposed of with a relevant authority (e.g., a permit) or in accordance with an approved management method.

For further information go to Clean Fill | EPA Tasmania

The Director, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has approved a management method (AMM) for clean fill disposal, in limited circumstances, to apply for an interim period of around 12 months.  It will commence on 6 April 2022 and expires on 31 March 2023.

This interim AMM allows the disposal of up to 100 tonnes of clean fill on land within a calendar year and includes specific requirements to ensure records are kept and that controlled waste (such as asbestos) is not disposed of as ‘clean fill’.

This will allow small-scale use of clean fill to continue until more detailed management of clean fill can be developed and considered in public consultation.

It is recognized that these are significant changes to the regulation of clean fill disposal in Tasmania. It is expected that a person’s best endeavours will be used to comply with the interim AMM.

A copy of the interim AMM can be viewed here.