2016-04-19 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   19 APRIL 2016


Benzene as an active constituent of Motor Spirit is 1% [volume/volume] as legislated in Australia.
This is a minor fraction of total chemical compounds in Motor Spirit. With the advent of modern
VR1 systems and fibreglass underground tanks the vapour fraction escaping to the environment
has reduced to extremely low levels that poses no detrimental health impacts to those living in
close proximity to Petrol Stations.
The refuelling canopy is some 46m to the boundary with the school that backs onto the sports
hall and swimming. There are no classrooms within at least 100-150m of the petrol station. This
separation distance alone is more than sufficient to neutralise / dilute any minor trace benzene
particulates to such a degree and to be undetectable.
Upon review of the public submissions Council issued an additional information request about the
issue, with officers previously unaware of the toddler pool location. The request noted the
extremely sensitive adjacent uses and requested the applicant demonstrate compliance with the
Brisbane City Service Station Code Outcome O7 and provision of an associated air quality
impact assessment.
The applicant responded on 15 February 2016 submitting an Air Quality Assessment prepared by
its consultant, Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd (included as Attachment 2 to this report). The
assessment modelled fuel emissions using Ausplume, a recognised modelling tool for regulatory
assessments. The report indicates conservative modelling assumptions have been made and
finds peak emissions of VOCs to be those for benzene at approximately 30% of annual criteria
set under the State’s Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 2008. All other VOCs are modelled at
well within air quality criteria limits.
Council engaged MWA Environmental to undertake a peer review of the applicant’s Air Quality
Assessment. Their review found the overall methodology undertaken was reasonable and had
adopted suitable air quality objectives. MWA noted the modelling used CSIRO TAPM software
rather than local observation data and it considers incorporation of data for the Tewantin
meteorological station would have been reasonable. However, it notes:
… based upon our review of the meteorological dataset applied to the dispersion model and
considering our overall review, the assessment outcome is unlikely to be sensitive to
incorporation of otherwise of the Tewantin observation data.
That is, given peak emissions for benzene are approximately 30% of maximum criteria, use of
Tewantin weather data would not be likely to cause a difference of a magnitude that would result
in emissions exceeding the criteria.
Notably, the Assessment also indicates the applicant is willing to incorporate Stage 2 vapour
recovery. MWA Environmental finds:
The service station is proposed to incorporate Stage 1 and Stage 2 vapour recovery systems to
minimise emissions from the following processes:
Stage 1 Vapour Recovery - Essentially a ‘vapour balance’ system which pipes air displaced from
the underground storage tanks back into the tanker truck when filling. Significantly reduces the
emission ‘peak’ that would occur during filling of the underground storage tanks without the
system.
Stage 2 Vapour Recovery - Refuelling nozzles (handles) incorporate a seal and pipe connected
to a vacuum pump to return air displaced from vehicle fuel tanks when filling back into the
underground storage tank. Significant reduction in the emissions that occur during vehicle
refuelling.
The proposed Stage 1 and Stage 2 vapour recovery systems represent best-practice emission
control for a service station.




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