Government agencies are set to swoop on the owners of Stawell’s Tyre Yard if new fire prevention deadlines are not met.
Country Fire Authority issued an updated notice to Used Tyre Recycling Corporation outlining work the company must complete by July 31, September 30 and November 30.
It comes after the Environment Protection Agency found Used Tyre Recycling Corporation had failed to reduce the risk of fire at the site.
The company was required to reduce the number of tyres at the site and separate them into smaller piles.
But a notice of contravention was issued to the Tyre Yard owners in April for not meeting the demands.
The new fire prevention notice required Used Tyre Recycling Corporation to secure the perimeter of the premises and protect the site from arson or accidental fires.
The company must install bund walls or catchment pits to prevent surface run off, install water tanks capable of storing 500,000 litres and document all procedures to control possible ignition sources at the site.
CFA also demanded separation distances between any tyre pile and buildings on adjoining properties of 20 metres and to reconfigure the largest tyre pile at the northern end of the premises into six separate piles.
Used Tyre Recycling Corporation was also asked to store any shredded, baled or processed tyres at the site in shipping containers.
CFA said these demands must be met by the end of July.
“CFA has been working with the Environmental Protection Authority Victoria, Emergency Management Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Northern Grampians Shire Council to reduce the fire risk at the UTRC site,” a CFA spokesperson said.
“The fire prevention notice follows three statutory notices issued by EPA in relation to the tyre stockpile since August 2015.
“It was decided in consultation with these bodies the best legislation to deal with the fire risk was that of CFA.
“EPA has to date been the lead agency on this matter, the fact it is now assessed as a significant fire risk means CFA issued the Notice.
CFA said a number of government agencies would work together to address and inspect issues at the Tyre Yard to prevent risks to the community, environment and economy.
“Future action will depend on compliance as per the Fire Prevention Notice,” a spokesperson said.
Used Tyre Recycling Corporation did not to respond to Times-News for comment.
