“The containers are stacked to ceiling height and pushed into every square inch of the premises. It is not safe. It shows a complete disregard for the laws governing dangerous goods,” said Damian Wells, the EPA’s acting chief executive. “This is at the extreme end of offending in terms of what we allege and there’s a complete disregard for community safety, complete shirking of responsibility.” Authorities say there is no immediate threat to the local community. But the properties are under 24-hour surveillance by private security and being patrolled by Victoria Police amid concerns the stockpile could be “tampered with”. Emergency services and the EPA have been on high alert in the wake of one of the state’s worst industrial blazes in decades at a West Footscray warehouse, an illegal chemical dump site that is suspected to have been deliberately set alight in August.

Sandbags protect the doorway of one of the Epping properties where the waste has been stored. Credit:Simon Schluter That fire burned for three days, spewed a plume of toxic smoke across the western suburbs and led to the widespread contamination of nearby Stony Creek, including the death of hundreds of fish and other wildlife. The former warehouse site and waterway remain contaminated four months after the fire, a problem aggravated by run off following rain. Apart from the threat of arson at the Epping properties, sources say the EPA and CFA hold serious concerns about the integrity of the storage containers, some of which appear to be damaged or overfilled and leaking. One leak from the site has already been detected and parts of the buildings and nearby drains have been reinforced with sandbags to prevent run off. The warehouses are about 500 metres from Edgars Creek, which eventually feeds into Merri Creek. The EPA reports another three warehouses containing illicit chemicals were discovered in Campbellfield as part of the same operation, and authorities are investigating a link between the locations.

“We will be alleging there’s a common link and that’s all I can say. I would not describe them as isolated incidents,” Mr Wells said. “We believe this has been a highly co-ordinated ... highly organised illegal activity.” The investigation will also focus on the “supply chain” that led to the chemicals being transported and stored at the site, as well as the identity of the person or business responsible for managing the property. Burnt-out chemical drums after the fire at the West Footscray factory last year. Credit:Justin McManus The discoveries in Epping and Campbellfield have reinforced concerns about Victoria’s growing illicit waste trade, where chemicals, asbestos, tyres and other toxic materials are being dumped in warehouses or on public land in the outer suburbs. This new “business model” sees cowboy operators – and organised crime gangs – offer to remove waste at below-market rates to businesses wanting to avoid paying expensive disposal fees to licensed operators.

Many of the chemicals being found at illicit sites are used by heavy industry and are expensive to dispose of properly. Loading In many cases, landlords or a local council are forced to pay to clean up the mess left behind by rogue operators. The EPA believes it will take weeks before its officers understand the nature of the chemicals dumped in Epping and Campbellfield and “many, many months” before they are removed. “We’re still resolving the estimates because the issue with these buildings is that they are so full and there are concerns about the officers’ safety entering these buildings,” Mr Wells said.

A WorkSafe spokeswoman said “numerous” compliance notices had been issued for failures to adequately store and handle dangerous goods on the properties. “Worksafe will continue to undertake inspections in the surrounding areas, and will crackdown on any other occupiers who may be storing hazardous substances illegally,” she said. Victoria Police will “maintain a presence” in the area with regular patrols. sumeyya.ilanbey@theage.com.au