A leak of liquid pitch from a storage tank owned by Koppers Australia in Portland was detected on Saturday 18 February 2012.  The leak was contained and declared safe by the Country Fire Authourity at 4pm on Friday 24 February 2012.

This page contains the latest information on this incident.

Liquid coal tar pitch is a dense hydrocarbon liquid that has a strong, aromatic coal tar odour.  Following a chemical leak of coal tar pitch at Koppers Coal Tar Facility in Portland, the Department of Helath has prepared the attached information to address potential community health concerns relating to exposure.  Please click HERE  to view the community fact sheet.

Please click on the links below for the latest community information on the liquid pitch incident:

• Community Daily Newsletter No. 7 - Friday 24 February 2012
• CFA Media Release, Friday 24 February 2012
• Community Daily Newsletter No. 8 - Saturday 25 February 2012
• Koppers Report - Leak in Storage Tank in Portland
• Koppers Community Newsletter - Thursday 1 March 2012
• Community Newsletter, 9 March 2012 - Clean up at Port to commence shortly
• Community Newsletter, 26 March 2012 - Clean up at Port has commenced
• Koppers News Release, 30 March 2012 - Clean up at Port on track
• Koppers News Release, 5 April 2012 - Clean up at Port well advanced
• Koppers News Release, 16 April 2012 - Phase one to be completed before week's end
• Koppers News Release, 30 April 2012 - First stage of clean up at Port completed

To obtain further information on this incident from Koppers Australia, please contact:

Nick Moretti, Operations Manager
Koppers Australia
Mobile: 0412 194 597
or visit the Koppers Australia website at: www.koppers.com.au

The Glenelg Shire Council is coordinating the recovery process on behlf of the community.
For more information, please visit the Glenelg Shire's website at www.glenelg.vic.gov.au