EPA Victoria has received a Development Licence application from James Hardie Australia Pty Ltd for a fibre cement building product manufacturing and distribution facility on Mt Atkinson Rd, Truganina.
The facility would use crushed beach sand, cellulose, cement and water to create cellulose-reinforced fibre cement sheets.
The facility is proposed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and would require an EPA Development Licence that would place conditions on its design and construction, then an EPA Operating Licence that would apply strict conditions to its day-to-day operation.
The community can make submissions on this proposal between 15 February and 9 March 2023. You can view the application details and have your say at https://engage.vic.gov.au/james-hardie-australia-pty-ltd-app021715
EPA licences and permissions
To perform prescribed activities that may cause harm to human health and/or the environment, you must have a permission such as a licence, permit or registration.
Permissions work alongside the General Environmental Duty, ensuring performance standards and conditions are met across a range of activities. There are three tiers of permissions based on the level of risk to human health and the environment:
1. Licences for high-risk prescribed activities
2. Permits for medium-risk prescribed activities
3. Registrations for low-risk prescribed activities
This risk-based approach means EPA can target different levels of risk with the right balance of permissions and conditions. Our Permissions scheme policy (publication 1799) outlines:
• Your role, as the permission holder, in ensuring compliance and preventing harm
• What we consider when assessing an application for a permission
• How permissions work to manage the risks related to prescribed activities
