The Victorian Auditor-General has released a damming report of the managing of contaminated sites by the Department of Planning and Community Development, the Environment Protection Authority and local councils.

 

The report stresses that the mismanagement demonstrates they are not actively reducing potentially significant risks to human health and the environment.

 

“In this audit we identified a range of cases that demonstrate the adverse consequences that flow from a lack of accountability and clarity, and gaps in the framework. Most notably we identify cases of inaction by responsible entities in dealing with contamination; this inaction being driven in part by an undue emphasis on avoiding legal and financial liability, rather than protecting human health and the environment,” the report reads.

 

The report found that lack of access to complete and reliable information on the location and extent of contamination was a major factor in the inability to properly address the issues.

 

The report concluded that responsible entities have neither been proactive nor systematic in obtaining necessary information, meaning that agencies cannot reliably plan and prioritise actions.

 

The full report can be found here