Latest news with #BacchusMarsh
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Mayor says EPA monitored toxic waste dumping for years, failed to protect residents
A Victorian mayor who discovered that authorities were aware that toxic waste had been dumped outside a property near Bacchus Marsh says the state government has "absolutely no care for the safety of its people". Moorabool Shire Council lost a battle at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) against the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on Wednesday. As a result the council has been ordered to clean up 20 pallets of dissolved acetylene cylinders, which are highly flammable and filled with asbestos. Moorabool Shire Mayor Paul Tatchell alleged the cylinders were moved from a property in Merrimu, near Bacchus Marsh, onto council land. He also alleged the EPA monitored the property for two years and watched on as the cylinders were dumped beside a public road. Cr Tatchell says it is "disgraceful" that ratepayers must foot an expected $500,000 bill to clean up the waste, which can only be processed at one site in Victoria. "At the end of the day we're there to protect our residents and we're going to get a bill for about half a million bucks, plus legal costs, for something the EPA knew all about and watched happen," he said. "They waited until these trailers were removed off this property and then put the order on us … to clean it up because the perpetrator was bankrupt. "[We either] have a gutless minister that won't stand in and protect the people, or an EPA … that is more interested in protecting the minister." Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos has been contacted for comment. The VCAT hearing heard the EPA had cameras set up at the address to monitor movement of the material but did not intervene. VCAT found that the footage was not monitored in real time and so would "simply provide information about what had happened rather than providing a realistic opportunity for intervention". In an affidavit to VCAT, Moorabool Shire chief executive Derek Madden said the community was being forced to pay for "the EPA's failure to manage a site under its knowledge and oversight". Cr Tatchell said the dumping of acetylene cylinders had been a problem for years throughout the state. "This is when they used to dispose of acetylene with asbestos … those cylinders can never be refilled by the people who manage the products," he said. Cr Tatchell believed whoever dumped the cylinders at Merrimu did so without the property owner's knowledge. "The EPA definitely knows [who it is], but they just haven't given it to us," he said. "There are still thousands of these acetylene tanks floating around Victoria on people's properties. "I've got absolutely no doubt that the EPA knows where they are and are just going to do the same thing all over the Victoria." The EPA said "as a result of VCAT's ruling, EPA's decision requiring council to clear the waste remains in force". "The matter is continuing in VCAT as the final hearing is not until later this year," it said in a statement. "EPA's investigation into the illegal dumping is ongoing so further comment cannot be made." The Victorian government said it was working with local governments to crack down on illegal dumping. "We know illegal dumping of waste has an impact on local communities and environment — that's why we have given the EPA greater powers to crack down on offenders, including tougher penalties for repeat offenders," a spokesperson said. "The EPA is working with local governments across the state, along with industry and community, to address this issue as part of its Illegal Waste Disposal Program, which aims to disrupt systematic illegal waste disposal."
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Crash that killed young pilot caused by low-speed stall in gusty winds: ATSB
A fatal stall just 150 feet above the ground claimed the life of a young Victorian pilot last year, with investigators now confirming wind gusts and low airspeed left him no chance to recover. The tragic incident occurred on the morning of October 22, 2024, as Jack Miller, 20, attempted a private flight from Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome to Lethbridge in Victoria. A new Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has found that Mr Miller was flying a Cessna 150 when the aircraft stalled shortly after takeoff in strong, gusty winds at Bacchus Marsh, northwest of Melbourne, fatally injuring the young pilot. According to the ATSB final report released on Thursday, Mr Miller initially rejected a first takeoff attempt from runway 27 and broadcast this over the common traffic advisory frequency but gave no reason for the decision. Shortly afterwards, he returned to the end of the same runway and initiated a second takeoff. After becoming airborne, the aircraft climbed to about 150 feet before pitching steeply nose-up. Witnesses then saw the nose and left wing drop as the aircraft entered a vertical descent and crashed into a paddock beside the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and Mr Miller, who was the sole occupant, died at the scene. The investigation did not find any mechanical issues with the aircraft or evidence of pilot incapacitation. Instead, the ATSB concluded the Cessna was likely too slow on takeoff for the prevailing wind conditions, and control inputs to counteract the crosswind probably increased the angle of attack on the left wing. 'These factors, combined with the wind conditions, increased the risk of a quick and unrecoverable stall,' ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said. 'The stall occurred too close to the ground for the aircraft to be recovered from.' Mr Mitchell said while aerodynamic stalls could happen at any altitude or airspeed, they were most hazardous during takeoff and landing. 'When gusting conditions are present, pilots should consider waiting for more benign conditions,' he said. 'Guidance advises pilots to conduct their own testing in progressively higher winds to determine both their own capability and that of the aircraft. 'If pilots judge weather to be suitable, they should consider climbing out at a higher airspeed to provide a buffer above their aircraft's stall speed for detection and correction of an impending stall.' The report highlighted that Mr Miller had more than 180 hours of flight experience, including just less than four hours in the Cessna 150, and had recently joined the Bacchus Marsh Aero Club. Weather on the day was estimated to include winds of 10 knots gusting up to 30 knots, with strong crosswind components likely present at takeoff. The ATSB said the accident underscored the importance of maintaining adequate airspeed margins and being mindful of crosswind effects during takeoff, especially in turbulent conditions. After the crash last year, Mr Miller's devastated sister, Nicole Miller, told 7News her brother had always dreamt of becoming a pilot, describing him as her 'hero'. He earnt his pilot's licence earlier in 2024, just months before the crash. '(He was) always watching all the old war movies with the planes that would take off, he would soak up everything that he saw,' Ms Miller said. She said her brother was a 'caring, kind-hearted' young man who was just shy of his 21st birthday. 'Whatever happened doesn't change the outcome at the end of the day,' she said. 'We still don't have him, and nothing will ever fix the place he had in our lives.'
ABC News
10-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
ATSB finds strong wind, low speed but no aircraft fault before fatal Bacchus Marsh crash
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation into a pilot's death has found no "issues" with his Cessna 150 light aircraft that crashed in a paddock in October. Seaford man Jack Miller, 20, died soon after his plane took off from Bacchus Marsh aerodrome, north-west of Melbourne, on October 22. A preliminary report from the ATSB found there were "strong and gusty wind conditions" on the day and the aircraft stalled at a low height before crashing into a paddock in Parwan, west of Melbourne. In the final report, released on Thursday, the ATSB found Mr Miller aborted his first take-off before the plane left the ground, advising the aerodrome. He did not provide further information as to why he aborted but after leaving the runway a second time, the Cessna climbed to 46 metres before pitching steeply nose-up. Witnesses then saw the left wing drop before the plane fell into a paddock next to the airfield. Mr Miller died at the scene. A 10-month investigation could not identify any problems with the Cessna 150. A post-mortem examination also did not find evidence of any substances or other contributors that might have affected Mr Miller's capacity. The report concluded the aircraft was too slow on take-off and strong wind conditions led to the crash. 'These factors, combined with the wind conditions, increased the risk of a quick and unrecoverable stall,' ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said. 'The stall occurred too close to the ground for the aircraft to be recovered from."
News.com.au
13-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
‘Shouldn't have happened': Victorian mum's fallopian tubes removed during surgery
A Melbourne mum has taken legal action against a healthcare provider after waking from an emergency surgery to learn her fallopian tubes had been removed. In early 2022, Liz Darwish was 10 weeks pregnant with her and husband Mouhamad's fourth baby when she noticed she was bleeding. Doctors at Bacchus Marsh Hospital confirmed Ms Darwish had suffered a miscarriage. Five weeks later, however, she was rushed to Sunshine Hospital in St Albans, having collapsed while getting out of the shower due to a sudden drop in her blood pressure. Recounting the incident to 9 News, Ms Darwish said she was asked by staff at Sunshine Hospital if she was pregnant. 'I said no, I wasn't pregnant, I had a clean-out five to six weeks prior in Bacchus Marsh Hospital so there was no chance I was pregnant,' she told the program, referring to the D&C (dilatation and curettage) procedure that removes any remaining pregnancy tissue after miscarriage. The doctors then discovered that Ms Darwish was actually still pregnant, and that Bacchus Marsh had missed an ectopic pregnancy – when the fertilised egg stays inside the fallopian tube – that had then ruptured. 'I was bleeding internally and I just thought, 'I'm not going to make it, I'm not going to make it home',' Ms Darwish said. 'I just didn't think I would be able to see my kids again and I thought my daughter's going to grow up without her mum.' The fact that it was an ectopic pregnancy was something Ms Darwish said doctors did not convey to her. Instead, thinking she was dying, Ms Darwish told them to do whatever was necessary to keep her alive before they took her into surgery. When she woke up, she was informed both of her fallopian tubes had been removed – which Ms Darwish's lawyer, Maryse Andrinopoulos-Tsigolis, told 9News was 'not usual practice … when the ectopic pregnancy has only ruptured in one'. 'With appropriate care, Liz would not have lost either fallopian tube,' Ms Andrinopoulos-Tsigolis, from Shine Lawyers, said. 'This shouldn't have happened, it has had devastating consequences for Liz and is something that could've been solved through a simple laparoscopy.' Three years on, Ms Darwish said healthcare provider Western Health had still not given an explanation as to why the Sunshine Hospital doctors removed the organ. She and her husband are now pursuing legal action. In a statement provided to a spokesperson for Western Health said it is 'committed to providing patient-centred, high-quality care and safety and wellbeing of our patients is our top priority'. 'For privacy reasons we will not comment on individual patients in response to media inquiries.' The Darwish's said the hospital's actions had robbed them of growing their family. 'That choice and that decision was taken away and that's what's hard,' Ms Darwish said. 'Take accountability and fix what you've done. Fix it so it doesn't happen to anyone else.'
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Melbourne mum wakes up in hospital with no fallopian tubes after two horror medical blunders
A mother who dreamed of having a large family was left with both her fallopian tubes removed after a hospital mistook her ectopic pregnancy for a miscarriage. Melbourne couple Liz and Mouhamad Darwish were thrilled when they found out they were expecting their fourth child in early 2022. Sadly, 10 weeks into the pregnancy, she began experiencing abnormal bleeding. The couple rushed to Bacchus Marsh Hospital, in the city's west, where they were told Ms Darwish had suffered a miscarriage. 'This is life and this is how it is and we have to be thankful for our blessing and sometimes things are out of our hand,' she told Nine News on Monday. While still coming to terms with the loss, Ms Darwish's health took a turn for the worst five weeks later. She recalled getting out of the shower and suddenly losing consciousness. Ms Darwish believes she fainted up to five times before her sons found her lying on the bathroom floor. The mother was rushed to Sunshine Hospital, also in Melbourne's west, where doctors asked if she was pregnant. 'I said no, I wasn't pregnant, I had a cleanout five to six weeks prior in Bacchus Marsh Hospital so there was no chance I was pregnant,' Ms Darwish said. However, it turned out she was still pregnant. The doctors at Bacchus Marsh five weeks earlier had missed an ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube, which had ruptured. Mr Darwish recalled facing the 'horrific' possibility he may become widower as his wife bled internally. Not understanding what was happening, Ms Darwish told doctors to do whatever it took to save her life. 'I just thought, 'I'm not going to make it, I'm not going to make it home',' she said. 'I just didn't think I would be able to see my kids again and I thought my daughter's going to grow up without her mum.' When she woke from surgery, both her fallopian tubes had been removed. Typically, only the affected fallopian tube would be removed in the case of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Three years on, Ms Darwish claims the staff at both hospitals 'got it wrong every step of the way'. The mother-of-three is also yet to receive an explanation as to why both fallopian tubes were removed. Ms Darwish is now taking legal action against Western Health, the owner of both Bacchus Marsh and Sunshine hospitals. She has opened up about the ordeal in the hope it doesn't happen to any other expectant mum. Maryse Andrinopoulos-Tsigolis from Shine Lawyers believes her client would not have lost either fallopian tube had she received appropriate care. 'This shouldn't have happened, it has had devastating consequences for Liz and is something that could've been solved through a simple laparoscopy,' Ms Andrinopoulos-Tsigolis said. The hardest part is the significant struggles the couple would face if they want to extend their family. 'That choice and that decision was taken away and that's what's hard,' Ms Darwish said. 'Take accountability and fix what you've done. Fix it so it doesn't happen to anyone else.' A spokesperson said that Western Health was 'committed to providing patient-centred, high-quality care and the safety and wellbeing of our patients is our top priority' but wouldn't comment on the individual matter, citing privacy reasons.
