A 10,000-litre tanker that will draw groundwater contaminants out of the Tullamarine dump has been labelled as hazardous by residents and environmental experts.

According to a Transpacific Industries management report, a 10,000-litre tank will be used to extract the contaminant LNAPL (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid) from the landfill site.

But objectors are worried that the operation will result in leakage of contaminants and unsafe gas emissions.

Western Region Environment Centre director and Terminate Tullamarine Toxic Dump Action Group member Harry Van Moorst has kept a watchful eye on the dump issue for years.

“The level of contaminants is very high and constitutes a substantial hazard to both environment and health - that appears to be why they (TPI) want to leave as much of it in the dump as possible,” he said.

“The risk of leakage, especially with a seriously inadequate cap on the landfill, is substantial.”

TPI’s management report was a condition of a pollution abatement notice issued by the Environmental Protection Authority in November 2008.

Although TTTDAG requested the management plan last year, the group only received the report – dated February 2009 – last week.

EPA spokeswoman Ruth Ward said EPA would discuss TPI’s management plan at the Tullamarine Rehabilitation Advisory Committee meeting tonight.

“There are several EPA environmental regulations that TPI will have to adhere to,” she said.

TTTDAG will hold a public meeting on 24 November to inform residents about EPA’s and TPI’s plans for the site.

TTTDAG president Kaylene Wilson said: “The public have a right to know what’s going on, particularly since they have been locked out of (TRAC) meetings since last month.”

According to the management report, TPI plans to dilute the leachate by mixing highly contaminated oil on the site with less toxic oil, so it comes under 50ppm and therefore is able to be treated in Victoria.

Mr Van Moorst said nearby residents would be at risk of exposure to the contaminants, as there had already been leakages of leachate into the Moonee Ponds Creek and poisonous gas near the airport.

“The safest alternative is to pump out as much of the LNAPL as possible and to establish a proper treatment facility with substantial buffers between it and residential areas. To protect the environment and community from additional leakages due to remaining the cap must be improved,” Mr Van Moorst said.

Communication at the meeting will be made available to the public online.

“As far as we’re concerned (the management plan) fails to meet the requirements of the pollution abatement report and we would be very disappointed and angry if EPA was prepared to accept this proposal in this form,” Mr Van Moorst said.

After Star contacted TPI last week, a spokesman responded by email: “Unfortunately due to the complexity of the issues we have not had enough time to collect and check the facts, so are unable to provide a response at this time.”

The public meeting will be at 7.30pm tonight in room five of the Hume Global Learning Centre.