Narangba Industrial Estate Report released

The report of the Multi-Agency Fire and Firewater Risk Minimisation Inspection Program at the Narangba Industrial Estate has been released today.

Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell said the program commenced following the August 2005 fire at Binary Industries in the Narangba Industrial Estate.

“It was conducted by the Department of Emergency Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, in conjunction with the Caboolture Shire Council, and was finalised by all participating agencies earlier this month,” he said.

“The program involved officers inspecting facilities classified, under the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001, as Large Dangerous Goods Locations or Major Hazard Facilities. There were 16 companies within the estate which met these classifications.

“They identified a number of regulatory issues. Directives and notices were issued where appropriate, and I’m advised by the various agencies involved that all have been complied with.

“The report also states that no issues were found that were sufficiently serious to warrant the raising of a directive to suspend operations under Section 97 of the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act.”

Mr Purcell said the report provides direction for occupiers of the estate, State Government agencies, and local councils when it comes to providing a safer environment surrounding these estates.

“While the program and recommendations apply to the Narangba Industrial Estate, there is a provision to adopt many of the recommendations to other similar estates around the state,” he said.

Mr Purcell said that the Government has agreed to all the recommendations in the report.

“Work is already underway on several of them, and the implementation of the recommendations will be overseen by Directors-General of departments as part of the Accelerated Planning Chief Executive Officers Group,” he said.

“This report continues the Government’s commitment to dealing with all aspects of the Binary fire, and it details the Government’s on-going scrutiny of the entire Narangba Industrial Estate.”

The report will be publicly available on the Emergency Management Queensland and Department of Emergency Services websites later today.

Media contacts:

Minister Purcell’s office – Tim Shipstone: 3247 8194, 0409 620 571.

Emergency Management Queensland – 3109 7278