EPA launches investigation into North St Marys fire

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has commenced an investigation into a large chemical fire at Coopers Environmental Waste Recycling Pty Ltd in North St Marys, Sydney.

The fire erupted at 11:30pm on Saturday, 29 November causing several explosions. EPA officers were on site from early Sunday morning to assist Fire and Rescue NSW in their emergency response and ensure impacts to the environment and community were minimised.

The EPA can confirm the site contains hazardous waste, and we are asking members of the community to stay away from the site, with the road cordoned off.

We are also encouraging people to avoid contact with the unnamed creek adjacent to the facility on Kurrajong Road, and South Creek between Kingsway Rugby Field and Dunheved Golf Course while clean-up operations are underway. 

The EPA has issued a formal Clean Up Notice to Coopers Environmental, requiring the business to immediately take actions to prevent the migration of pollution from the premises and reduce further impacts. 

The business has engaged a specialist contractor to deploy sucker trucks and remove contaminated fire water and sludge from nearby waterways, including the adjoining culverts near Kurrajong Road and further downstream locations.

The business must also engage a qualified environmental consultant to assess impacts on nearby waterways, provide an inventory of chemicals stored at the premises before the incident, and ensure all waste is safely and appropriately disposed of. 

As part of its investigation, the EPA is conducting water quality monitoring downstream of the site, with the results to be shared to the public once they become available and at the appropriate time.

Community advice and updates can be found at: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Working-together/Community-engagement/updates/greater-sydney/north-st-marys-fire