A petition calling for the Coolaroo recycling plant at the centre of a massive blaze last month to be closed has been signed by more than 200 people.
The Change.Org petition is also calling for the SKM Recycling facility on Maffra Street to be relocated.
The plant caught fire on July 13, shrouding parts of the northern suburbs in acrid smoke and forcing Dallas residents out of their homes.
The fire burned for 11 days, with firefighters travelling from interstate to help. Five people, including a four-year-old girl, were taken to hospital with smoke-induced conditions, while another eight were treated at a relief centre.
Lead petitioner Huseyin Karagol said the plant needed to be closed and the people and businesses affected needed to be compensated.
Mr Karagol said the July blaze was the third fire at the facility this year.
“The last fire was the worst fire outbreak,” he said. “High levels of toxic smoke was blown into residential homes across Dallas, Coolaroo and Campbellfield.”
Many of the people who have signed the petition so far said the recycling facility needed to be closed because it was a health risk.
The petition comes as the state government launches a review into the fire. Emergency Services Minister James Merlino announced the review last Tuesday, saying it was an opportunity for the government to look at how it responds to such fires.
The review will be conducted by Inspector-General for Emergency Management Tony Pearce.
Mr Pearce will examine key aspects of the fire, including the effectiveness of the state smoke framework, air quality monitoring, firefighter occupational health and safety, and the Environment Protection Authority’s processes. Mr Pearce will deliver a report to the government by the end of November.
The review will coincide with a government taskforce audit into recycling facilities, which is examining sites that require action.
“The review will ensure we know exactly what worked, what didn’t and what can be improved,” Mr Merlino said.
The petition can be signed at bit.ly/2w4ThNM
