At last Tuesday’s meeting, landfill operator Transpacific Industries announced a new body called the Tullamarine Landfill Aftercare Management Expert Advisory Group would now be ‘‘referred to for matters of clarification’’.

Gary Whitehead, general manager of TPI, which is rehabilitating the landfill, said the decision was in response to an Environment Protection Authority review that had revealed that the committee had not been meeting the needs of residents as well as stakeholders.

‘‘Transpacific has always been a willing member of TLRAC and believes it is an important forum to review the project’s progress and to raise concerns.

‘‘However, in its current format, there is belief that the meeting is not working and is not serving the needs of some stakeholders represented.’’ The change comes after the community and media were ‘‘locked out’’ of meetings last October.

The EPA and TPI representatives will now meet quarterly ‘‘one-on-one’’ with commercial stakeholders. Residents group Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Action Group will be excluded.

Group secretary Helen van den Berg described the change as a deliberate attempt to ‘‘divide and conquer’’ stakeholders while TPI withdrew from community

consultation. ‘‘In this new format all the community will get is a progress report on what has been decided without consulting the community.

‘‘EPA has now failed twice to come up with a successful consultative process.

‘‘After two years EPA still can’t justify giving the worst toxic dump in Victoria a third-rate cap.’’

EPA’s Matt Vincent said he would continue to be involved in meetings and supported an ‘‘engagement process’’ that ensured all stakeholders’ views were being heard.

‘‘EPA will continue to update the community on any environmental and enforcement matters that may arise out of the rehabilitation works.

‘‘Research undertaken by EPA showed the committee meeting was not the preferred way the community want to receive information about the