Mindarie Regional Council to appeal Tamala Park Landfill environmental rulings

The Mindarie Regional Council has voted to appeal two regulatory decisions made by the State’s environmental regulator last month.

Last week, in a closed-door meeting, the council moved to formally appeal the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s decisions to issue the Tamala Park Landfill operator with an Environmental Protection Notice and refuse a works approval application.

The refused works application was for a proposed piggyback liner, which the council believes is necessary to bring the landfill to its final profile before closure.

Chair of the MRC, who is also Town of Cambridge mayor, Gary Mack, said that while the landfill site is coming close to the end of its life, there is still essential work that needs to be done.

“It’s just not a case of shutting the gate and walking away,” Mr Mack told 6PR radio.

“We actually have to make sure that the topography of the site is really good. That there’s no pooling water.

“We also have to make sure there’s a capping, there’s subsoil, topsoil, and vegetation. Because it’s within the urban area, we’ve got to make sure this is aesthetically pleasing, as well as eliminating gas and odour.”

The Tamala Park landfill had been expected to reach capacity and close in 2028-29.

Despite the appeal, a spokesperson for the MRC said the council remained committed to carrying out the investigation and planning work requested by DWER in the Environmental Protection Notice.

“The appeals are intended to preserve potential outcomes and options while that further work is done,” the spokesperson said.

“Work under the EPN is continuing, including the leachate management plan already submitted to the Department.

“MRC’s priorities remain protecting the environment and closing the landfill at Tamala Park in line with best practice environmental requirements.”

The decision to appeal comes as it was recently revealed that leachate levels at the landfill site were nearly 400 per cent higher than previously estimated, at about 2.07 million cubic metres in October 2025 - enough to fill about 828 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Often referred to as “bin juice”, leachate is the contaminated liquid produced when rainwater and groundwater pass through decomposing waste in a landfill.