THE ACT Liberals have backed calls to review regulations for hazardous materials facilities following the chemical fire at Mitchell on Friday.
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Emergency services spokesman Brendan Smyth has asked for a briefing on investigations into the fire and called for a review into current regulations placed on companies like Energy Services Invironmental, where the fire took place.
''Given the Mitchell fire, it is timely to review current arrangements for storage of hazardous goods in the ACT to ensure they've kept pace [with expectations] on the type of goods stored, storage conditions, transportation and the response of the emergency services agency,'' he said.
His response follows calls by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW to ''get tough on the polluting industry''.
Chief executive Pepe Clarke said the Mitchell fire was the second recent pollution scare to affect NSW residents.
On August 8, a chemical leak at an Orica plant in Newcastle sent plumes of hexavalent chromium wafting past 70 homes in the area.
Mr Clarke said the Environment Protection Agency needed to respond more strongly to breaches of pollution licences by increasing the use of penalty notices and prosecutions.
The NSW Government has announced an audit of 42 major hazardous materials facilities but is keeping the location of these secret.
Mr Clarke said this was not good enough and that his state, as well as the ACT, should follow Victoria's lead in publishing the location of hazardous materials facilities and their emergency response procedures in the public domain.
''Given these recent incidents, there is a need for a thorough review, for open and transparent regulation so that people know what risk they are exposed to and what to do in an emergency.''
