Terminals Pty Ltd took its application to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after the Geelong council failed to make a decision in the required 60-day period. Their bid for four new tanks two with a capacity of 10,000 cubic metres, the others 500 cubic metres was opposed by the Geelong Chemical Action Network and concerned resident Peter Linaker.

According to its website, Terminals already has a capacity of 41,860 cubic metres on site next to the Shell refinery, in tanks ranging up to 6500 cubic metres.

After a three-day hearing VCAT found in Terminals’ favour, issuing the permit for the bitumen storage tanks.

In his findings, presiding VCAT member Philip Martin said the expansion would generate 12 truck movements per weekday, carrying about 25 tonnes per load.

He found that even if one of the tanks developed a split or leak, it would not create any “material danger” to residents who are at least 900m away from the edge of the site.

Mr Martin also rejected calls for a review of the site to find if it held the potential for an explosion similar to Coode Island fire in 1991.