Landfill Gas & Development Approvals: Regulatory
Requirements in Australian JurisdictionsPhil Sinclair
Acknowledge contributions from my Coffey colleagues NSW Landfill
guru Sam Gunasekera, Victoria Landfills gurus; Sarah Richards, Tim
Marshall and Nick Woodford- State regulators in a number of
jurisdictions for their assistance1
This is not Brookland GreensWednesday, 18 September 2013A
presentation for Clean Up 20132
400mParkMy place
2
Brookland GreensWednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for
Clean Up 20133
3
Brookland GreensWednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for
Clean Up 20134
4
Victorian Guidelines - 2010Wednesday, 18 September 2013A
presentation to Clean Up 20135Buffer distances between Landfills
and ReceptorsReceptorLandfill CategoryType 2 (Putrescible)Type 3
(Solid Inert)Surface waters 100 m 100 mLanding grounds and
airfields (piston aircraft)1500 m1500 mLanding grounds and
airfields (jet aircraft)3000 m3000 mBuildings and Structures 500 m
200 m
- - the buffers are measured from the sensitive land use to the
edge of the closest cell.They should also consider other activities
that can cause nuisance, e.g. leachate ponds
5
Queensland
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up
20136Indicative Buffer DistancesReceptorLandfill
TypePutrescibleNon-putrescibleSurface waters / 100 year flood
plain; 100 m 100 mLanding grounds and airfields (piston
aircraft)1500 m1500 mLanding grounds and airfields (jet
aircraft)3000 m3000 mUnstable area 100 m 100 mNoise, dust or odour
sensitive place 500 m 200 m
Environmental Protection Regulation 2008; ERA 60; landfill;
siting; operation; rehabilitation; EM2319
6
New South Wales
As with most jurisdictions, control is focussed on the source
site, less so on adjacent landA landfill should not be within 250 m
of a residenceIf development proposed within buffer, developer must
mitigate gas impactRecords of historic, licensed municipal
landfills are reasonable to goodRecords for historic, privately run
landfills, not as completeDevelopment consents are needed for
remediation. Unclear if installing gas mitigation in the buffer
zone = remediation and requires consentIf methane in buffer zone
>1.25%v/v, an EMP is required
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 20137
7
Tasmanian Guidelines - 2004
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up
20138Distance between Landfills and Sensitive
ReceptorsReceptorLandfill CategoryA (Solid Inert)B (Putrescible)C
(Secure)Permanentwatercourses(excluding farm dams) 50 m 100 m 100
mLanding grounds and airfields10,000 m10,000 m10,000 mResidences
300 m 500 m 500 m
- - - the regulator and planning authority should ensure both
the landfill and the receptor are constructed and managed using
appropriate impact attenuation technologies.
8
South Australian Advice: Development near Landfills - 2012
SA EPA Information Sheet for planning authorities, landfill
owners and developersSA EPA commits to provide adviceDevelopment is
defined as a building or enclosure that may accumulate gasSets a
buffer distance of 500m for all existing or closed landfillsAdvises
what qualifications are needed for risk assessment of LFG for:
- a landfill 26,000 tonnes a site contamination auditor as per
EP Act 1993SA EPA is a referral authority for development approvals
in the SA planning system
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up 20139
9
Western Australia
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up
201310Landfills Recommended buffer distances to sensitive
useLandfill typeWaste typeRecommended distanceClass IInert150m from
single dwellingClass II or IIIPutrescible500m from residential
developmentClass II or IIIPutrescible150m from single dwellingClass
IVSecureCase by caseClass VIntractable waterCase by case
Rehabilitation or Aftercare Plan may be needed for closed
landfillsGlobal review of landfill regulation and waste levies (Aug
2012) did not look at development of land near landfills BPEM
(draft) 2005 sets buffer distances
10
So back to NorthcoteWednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation
for Clean Up 201311
500m QLD, SA, TAS, VIC
250m NSW150m WAHome
11
Summing up
Regulatory control of landfill gas-related impacts are
predominantly (and appropriately) focussed on source sitesSome
controls in buffer zones around landfills relate to residences,
others to buildings and structures that could accumulate
gasPlanning controls for buffer zones around LFG sites are poorly
developed and inconsistentSome jurisdictions have better records of
where former landfills are located than othersAnother incident like
Brookland Greens could occur again
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up
201312
12
Recommendations
Develop a national, risk-based approach to assessing development
within a defined buffer zone of existing and former
landfillsPlanning approval should be for a building or enclosure
that may accumulate gas (as far as planning processes allow)Develop
a national guideline or Australian Standard; say like the aircraft
noise standard for Building Siting and ConstructionGeographic
Information Systems seem suited to the problemPerhaps a role for
the CRC CARE in developing these guidelines and standards?
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation to Clean Up
201313
13
Wednesday, 18 September 2013A presentation for Clean Up
201314Thank you
Send any questions to
[email protected]
14
BEST PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
SITING, DESIGN, OPERATION AND REHABILITATION OF LANDFILLS
Publication 788.1* September 2010
EPA Victoria
200 Victoria Street, Carlton
Victoria 3053 AUSTRALIA
EPA Victoria 2010
* This replaces publication 788, released October 2001.
BEST PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
SITING, DESIGN, OPERATION AND REHABILITATION OF LANDFILLS
Publication 788.1* September 2010
EPA Victoria
200 Victoria Street, Carlton
Victoria 3053 AUSTRALIA
EPA Victoria 2010
* This replaces publication 788, released October 2001.
