Major emergencies involving hazardous materials include large chemical fires in populated areas causing the release of toxic plumes, for example, a major hazard facility or waste management facility.

The loss-of-containment of materials that are in storage or being transported could also lead to a large explosion or release of toxic pollutants to the environment.

Examples of hazardous material incidents in Victoria include:

  • 2012 - Port of Portland 600T coal tar pitch spill
  • 2012 - Wangaratta Nuplex chemical incident caused by an uncontrolled chemical reaction in a reactor vessel
  • 2015 - Somerton tip fire occurred at a private refuse facility operated by Ecotec Solutions
  • 2017 - Coolaroo SKM recycling plant fire
  • 2019 - Campbellfield Bradbury Industrial Services hazardous waste storage facility fire

A parliamentary inquiry into recycling and waste management was established in March 2019 to inquire into the issue of the devastating industrial fires that have taken place as a result of the illegal or inappropriate stockpiling of dangerous chemicals.

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Publish year Assurance activity Summary Organisation
2023 Reducing the illegal disposal of asbestos (External link) An examination of whether DEECA, EPA, Parks Victoria, Sustainability Victoria and WorkSafe Victoria have effective measures in place to reduce the illegal disposal of asbestos. The report concluded that the measures in place to reduce illegal asbestos disposal are not coordinated across agencies, and consequently made 4 recommendations to EPA and 3 recommendations to WorkSafe. Victorian Auditor-General's Office