Somerset Quarry
Somerset Quarry is located south of Melbourne Airport, in Keilor.
The site has operated as a quarry since the mid-1970s and was previously used for landfill.
It is designated work authority WA44. Malcom Sinclair is the current work authority holder.
Current status
View the work authority area and location on Resource Licences Near Me.
Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator issued a series of notices and directions during 2024. These were designed to move the site to a safe, stable and sustainable final rehabilitated landform, as required under the approved rehabilitation plan.
Somerset Quarry has since submitted a contaminated land assessment report, conducted by an independent environmental consultant, for review by the regulator. The report outlines actions to be completed by the work authority holder as part of rehabilitating the site.
The regulator inspected the site in January 2025 and confirmed that:
- earthworks had progressed
- no further unauthorised materials had been imported within the quarry boundary
- on-site surface stockpiles had reduced.
Following this inspection, the regulator issued two additional remedial notices requiring Somerset Quarry to complete the actions identified in the contaminated land assessment report.
Regulatory compliance
Works conducted on-site are regulated and managed under the conditions stated on the work authority. These may include the need for planning permits and EPA approvals.
Read more about regulatory compliance.
The table below shows all recent compliance actions taken by the regulator against Somerset Quarry. Varying due dates apply to these enforcement actions. Regulatory compliance activities are ongoing while work continues towards the final rehabilitated landform. Notices are closed out when complied with.
| Date | Enforcement action type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 13/2/2025 | Written instruction | Remove derelict equipment and waste materials (concrete, bricks, glass and timber) from the site. |
| 31/1/2025 | s110 Notice | Complete further investigations in an area of the site identified in the contaminated land assessment to clarify the extent of additional material to be removed. |
| 31/1/2025 | s110 Notice | Conduct a grid-assessment of the site to identify hazardous materials (asbestos) at surface level. Remove hazardous material (asbestos) identified in the independent contaminated land assessment report. Disposal of material must be to a facility registered to accept this type of waste. |
| 30/07/2024 | Notice section 110 | Install and maintain a motion activated infrared security camera at the entry to Work Authority 44 to monitor access and compliance with notices. |
| 29/07/2024 | Infringement | Infringement Notice issued for Breach Section 110 Notice - Deposit NDD waste – $1186. |
| 29/07/2024 | Infringement | Infringement Notice issued for Breach Section 110 Notice - Importation of solid material – $1186. |
| 09/07/2024 | Notice section 110 |
Cease the importation of solid material into Work Authority WA44. Undertake a contaminated land assessment. |
| 09/07/2024 | Direction | Cease all importation of solid fill materials immediately. |
| 05/07/2024 | Notice section 110 | Stop Importation of non-destructive waste |
| 20/06/2024 | Notice section 110 | Stop Importation of non-destructive waste |
| 20/06/2024 | Direction | Cease all construction works associated with the construction of the western embankment including the buttress works at the toe of the western embankment. |
| 13/06/2024 | Direction | Cease pushing or placing any materials over the crest of the western embankment. |
| 07/06/2024 | Notice section 110 |
Cease the importation of all concrete, bricks, rock and building rubble. All crushed or uncrushed concrete, bricks, rock and building rubble is to be removed from the work authority and disposed of to a suitable EPA licenced landfill or recycling facility. |
| 07/06/2024 | Notice section 110 |
Undertake a survey, prepared by a suitably qualified and experienced surveyor, and complete a report of the landform across the work authority. The survey is to detail: a) The difference between current landform and proposed final landform at contours of one (1) meter including an area one hundred (100) meters outside the work authority to the adjoining land to the east of the Work Authority. b) The cut and fill volumes across the Work Authority including a map. c) The difference in volume between all materials currently on the Work Authority and materials required to achieve the proposed final rehabilitation landform. d) A survey and map of the Work Authority including surface water management, slope, and final rehabilitation landform of the western embankments no steeper than 1V:1.5H. e) Detailed east-west cross sections and a north-south long section of the existing and proposed final landform. |
| 05/04/2024 | Notice section 110 | Notice issued to quantify, by survey, the material onsite above natural ground level. |
Community updates
The Earth Resources Regulator is committed to keeping the local community informed about regulatory compliance activities at Somerset Quarry.
Following a community information session in July 2024 to provide an initial update, the regulator undertook to publish information here and provide new information via email. Additional community information sessions may also be organised in future if needed.
If you would like to be invited to a future information session and receive email updates on Somerset Quarry, please email errfeedback@deeca.vic.gov.au.
Enquiries and concerns
The work authority holder is responsible for all aspects of quarrying operations at the Somerset Quarry, including risk management and complaints handling.
If you have an enquiry, concern or complaint about activities occurring at the site, please contact the quarry directly in the first instance. This will enable the work authority holder to respond immediately.
Should your issue or concern remain unresolved, please contact the regulator responsible for the area it relates to as outlined below.
Earth Resources Regulator
Earth Resources Regulator regulates activities within the boundary of the work authority. See Resource licences near me for the exact site boundary. If you have a concern regarding quarrying activity, in the first instance email errfeedback@deeca.vic.gov.au.
For urgent out of hours reporting, the Compliance Duty Officer can be contacted on 0419 597 010.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA)
EPA prevents harm to human health from pollution and waste. Issues EPA are monitoring include:
- dust and other discharge from the site
- waste products being received on site.
To lodge a report with EPA, contact EPA’s 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 372 842 or online via the EPA's reporting pollution page.
Hume City Council
Hume City Council has responsibility for the roads and land outside of the work authority boundary. Relevant issues include:
- mud or erosion of the roads around the boundary
- working hours.
Enquiries to Hume City Council may be lodged via phone 03 9205 2200 or email contactus@hume.vic.gov.au.
Page last updated: 04 Mar 2025