Southern Waste ResourceCo - McLaren Vale

SWR Landfill Site Northeast

Southern Waste ResourceCo (SWR) has operated a landfill on Tatachilla Road at McLaren Vale, and has been on this site since 1993.

On 21 February 2020, SWR sought EPA approval to add per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of wastes it is licensed to received. After a rigorous assessment process, the EPA Board determined not to approve the application.

Regulation of litter leaving the site

The EPA is continuing to regulate SWR and is currently aware of community concerns surrounding excess litter on the western boundary of the site. This litter is a result of waste currently being deposit at a level closer to the top of stage 4, cell 3, at the point closest to the road. Southeasterly winds can cause some litter to be blown close to the site’s boundary. All other previously filled landfill cells on the site have been capped with final or interim capping as required by the EPA.

The EPA is in regular contact with SWR and is requiring it to undertake frequent litter collections. SWR has also initiated the installation of an extended litter net system (3-metres high) along the western boundary of cell 3 to help combat the problem. These measures will be monitored for effectiveness in preventing litter escaping the premises, with additional measures required if proving to be ineffective.

SWR litter net system

The 3-metre high litter net system along the western boundary keeps litter within the site.

The EPA would like to thank residents for contacting the EPA in regard to litter leaving the SWR site. If you have an enquiry or report of a general nature please contact Engage EPA. In the event of an emergency, please contact our 24/7 hotline on (08) 8204 2004.

PFAS landfill licence information

In 2020, SWR sought EPA approval to add per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of contaminated wastes it is licensed to receive at the McLaren Vale landfill. The company was entitled to make the application through its existing Development Approval to accept contaminated wastes. The EPA was legally required to assess the application.

On 25 February 2021 the EPA completed a lengthy and rigorous assessment of the information supplied by SWR, after undertaking research internally by qualified EPA scientists, commissioning external research by the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, and having undertaken significant engagement with the Willunga Basin community.

This application was also assessed against disposal criteria in the PFAS National Environment Management Plan (endorsed by all states, territories and the Australian Government and SA guidelines.

The EPA Board determined not to approve the SWR application to receive, store, treat and dispose of solid waste contaminated with PFAS at its McLaren Vale landfill.

The reasons for the refusal were:

PFAS being considered a persistent and bio-accumulative chemical of concern that is toxic to some organisms, and highly transmissible in water, with national agreement that special guidelines should apply to its management.
The unacceptable level of risk, while noting that SWR had proposed best practice engineering measures in its application.
The nature of PFAS, the uncertainties, and intergenerational considerations highlighted the need for a precautionary approach to the assessment of risk in the assessment of this application.
To further the environmental principles and objectives set out in the Environment Protection Act 1993.

Background

This site was chosen by a commercial operator, who was eligible to make this application through its existing development approval to accept contaminated wastes. The EPA was legally required to assess this application.

This application was assessed against disposal criteria in the PFAS National Environment Management Plan (endorsed by all states, territories and the Australian Government and SA guidelines.

Community engagement

Date	Activity
3 April 2020	Statutory notification letters sent to adjacent landholders.
6 April 2020	Information sent to key stakeholders advising of the application, attaching a community update providing facts about the proposal and inviting submissions. Stakeholders were identified through proximity to the site, and targeted vineyards and wine industry associations. Designated webpage, phone number and email for community engagement. Notification was published in The Advertiser announcing a public submission period, together with a media release sent to Adelaide Now (print and radio), AAP and InDaily.
28 April 2020	Public submission period officially closed. The EPA continued to receive submissions until 12 May 2020. All submissions received a tailored response, providing further information on the issues raised.
9 June 2020	All submissions received a tailored response, providing further information on the issues raised. The EPA published a community submissions report and SWR published a community response document.
18 June 2020	The EPA met with the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association and the Friends of Willunga Basin.
10 July 2020	Invite to community information session, encouraging people to attend and speak to staff from the EPA, SA Health & SWR.
14 July 2020	The EPA briefed the City of Onkaparinga Elected Members & staff.
30 July 2020	FAQs published that summarise the outstanding queries and further information to date. Community information session held at the Mclaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Information Centre from 2-8pm on 30 July 2020. 77 people attended.
7 August 2020	Emailed a thank you to everyone who attended the community information session and sent FAQs to all stakeholders that had registered their interest in the proposal.
21 October 2020	Attended public meeting hosted by Tatachilla Lutheran School
11 November 2020	Community update #2 sent to over 4,000 residents in an extended area including parts of Seaford Rise, Moana, Maslin Beach, Tatachilla, and McLaren Vale inviting people to register their interest to stay informed.
15 February 2021	Research reports published by Flinders University, Mud Environmental and Boyd Ramsey.
25 February 2021	Community update sent to 300 stakeholders to advise the application has been refused.

Site details and image gallery

The site at Tatachilla Road, McLaren Vale is owned by a private landowner and commercially operated by Southern Waste ResourceCo. Please see map below:

SWR McLaren Vale map November 2020