The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by Thurlow Metal Recycling for a metal recycling facility at 120 Cove Hill Road Bridgewater, in the Brighton municipality.
The proposal is to receive and process scrap metal including car bodies, batteries, engines, refrigeration units, drums, and gas cylinders at a facility in Bridgewater. Up to 3,000 tonnes per annum of materials will be received through the facility, with processed materials stored prior to dispatch to other facilities for further processing and recycling.
The EPA Executive Director Environmental Assessments, Dr 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 Brighton Council.
“Various environmental issues were considered by the Board in its assessment, particularly impacts to air, noise and water. The conditions imposed include restrictions on materials accepted and stockpile quantities to ensure the activity is managed appropriately," Mr Read said.
Public consultation was open for a 14-day period from 19 February 2022. No representations were received in relation to the permit application.
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 assessment of the proposal was undertaken 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 Thurlow Metal Recycling and Brighton Council.
The decision in relation to Thurlow Metal Recycling Pty Ltd, Metal Recycling Facility, Bridgewater can be viewed on this website.