Archive for the “Government” Category
The following figures were given on a daily basis for beaches within the Botany Bay and Georges River for the week commencing Sunday 20/11/2011. The pollution is said to be caused by stormwater overflow from various land sources. A high percentage is from sewerage outflows.
Beach Safe Polluted
Congwong (La Perouse) 2 5
Frenchman’s Bay(La Perouse) 2 5
Yarra Bay (La Perouse) 2 5
Foreshore (Botany) 1 6
Kyeemagh 3 4
Brighton le Sands 3 4
Ramsgate 1 3 4
Ramsgate 2 3 4
Dolls Point 1 3 4
Dolls Point 2 3 4
Carss Park 2 5
Oatley Bay 2 5
Como 2 5
Oatley Park 3 4
Silver Beach 3 4
Statistics from “Beachwatch” website, NSW Department of Environment and Heritage
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In a follow up article, Kate Carr presents the case for Sydney Water
Despair for Cooks River laden with filfth
17 Nov, 2011 07:00 AM
AS SUMMER approaches, how about a nice dip in the Cooks River?
It is an idea that fills most people with horror, but the Cooks River Valley Association is calling for the river to be cleaned up to such an extent that swimming would be possible.
‘‘There are viable swimming spots on other Sydney waterways, like the Lane Cove River and the Georges River. Why would people living near the Cooks River be content with a waterway that is too contaminated to swim anywhere, any time?’’ association spokeswoman Gayle Adams said.
Considering raw sewage contamination is one of the major problems affecting the river, swimming appears to be a long way off.
In fact Sydney Water’s waste water manager Rodney Kerr admitted the quality of the water in the river was no better now than 20 years ago.
‘‘I wouldn’t have thought so,’’ Mr Kerr said, when asked if the water had improved.
And it isn’t likely to start getting better until 2016 if Sydney Water sticks to its current timetable.
Mr Kerr said the dry weather overflow reduction program that targeted sewer blockages and the dry weather leakage program, which looked for cracks and faults in sewers, were due to be rolled out in the Cooks River catchment in 2016.
Following a damning report by University of NSW academic Stuart Khan, which found extensive contamination of the river via the sewerage system, Sydney Water took the Leader on a tour of the Cooks River last week to test for contamination.
Mr Kerr was adamant that while there were traces of sewage contamination, they were at extremely low levels.
‘‘This is not raw sewage,’’ Mr Kerr said after sampling officers tested Cup and Saucer Creek, a tributary of the Cooks. ‘‘It is a very low level of contamination.’’
But Mr Kerr’s claims directly contradict Dr Khan’s study, which looked for traces of caffeine and common pharmaceuticals in the river to gauge the extent of sewage leakages.
Dr Khan said the level of these products in the river was similar to those found in undiluted raw sewage.
‘‘The range was on par with the concentrations found in raw sewage,’’ Dr Khan said.
He said the highest concentrations were found in Cup and Saucer Creek.
Sydney Water and Dr Khan agree the source of much of this contamination is houses. Mr Kerr said illegal private connections linking stormwater run-off to the sewerage system contributed to sewers becoming overloaded when it rained.
Dr Khan said many of these connections existed in old houses built on the Earlwood side of the river before the public sewerage system was properly established.
Dr Khan said reconnecting houses properly to the system would be a massive undertaking.
But for nearby residents like Ms Adams, waiting is not good enough.
‘‘Are there any other waterways in Sydney which have languished so long with such poor levels of water quality?’’ she said. ‘‘The Cooks River has waited long enough.’’
HOW OTHER RIVERS ARE FARING
Georges River
Georges River Environmental Alliance secretary Sharyn Cullis on the problems facing the river: The middle reaches of the river are in poor health, with tributaries such as Salt Pan Creek and Cabramatta Creek polluting the river. Lower reaches of the river benefit from the flushing of the tides and are usually swimmable.
Hacking River
Otford Protection Society’s Natasha Watson on the major problems faced by the river: Sewage spills, including a major one in May this year. Pollution from the Metropolitan Coal mine in Helensburgh. Proposals to add more houses in the river catchment area at Helensburgh.
Ms Watson said there was very little swimming in the upper catchment of the river any more because of concerns about pollution.
The full article: www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/environment/despair-for-cooks-river-laden-with-filth/2360585.aspx
Editor: BBaCA is working with Cooks River Valley Association through Gayle Adams on this matter.
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The following article is reprinted from the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, forthe information of members living beyond the paper’scirculation area. Thanks to Kate Carr for her excellent article.
Filth flowing freely in Cooks River
BY KATE CARR
27 Oct, 2011 04:00 AM
A REPORT on the Cooks River which found high levels of raw sewage and traces of pharmaceuticals in its waters came as no shock to those who live nearby.
The report, by researchers at the University of NSW, found waste water was constantly flowing into the river through broken and leaking sewers.
Peter Stevens from Wolli Creek Preservation Society said the tragedy was that it was well known the river was being polluted by the sewerage system.
‘‘The issues are known,’’ Mr Stevens said. ‘‘But it has just been a matter of the state government not getting to fixing it.’’
Mr Stevens said community groups had done their best to improve the river’s health but had been let down by the government.
‘‘The community has put in heaps and heaps of time improving the surrounds of the river and testing the water but there are some things the community can’t do, like fixing the sewerage system,’’ he said.
The Leader asked NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker whether the government planned to fix the sewerage system but did not receive a response before going to press.
A spokeswoman for Ms Parker pointed to a now defunct program rolled out by the previous Labor government, the Cooks River Sustainability Initiative, and $2 million granted in 2008 by the federal government under former PM Kevin Rudd, as examples of state government efforts to improve the river, but did not outline new funding or plans.
‘‘The NSW government recognises the important role of the Cooks River Alliance — a group that involves eight local councils — to continue the environmental management and preservation of the Cooks River,’’ the spokeswoman said.
South West Enviro Centre vice-president Gary Blaschke has lived near the river for 50 years and manages a wetland system upstream at Chullora.
He said $6 million in funding was needed to clean up the river.
‘‘Up until now there has just been tokenistic stuff done,’’ Mr Blaschke said.
‘‘[The river] has been used and abused by every government that’s been around and it’s been neglected by every government.’’
He said the river needed a series of offline wetlands to filter and purify water.
Full article: www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/environment/filth-flowing-freely-in-cooks-river/2337215.aspx
Editor: BBaCA is making contact with the University of New South Wales to clarify the report and seek further action from government.
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Charles Gream of Fairfield writes for BBaCA
I live on a creek and see the effects of containers in and around it as well as the many other creeks in my local government area. Of course, anyone, anywhere is likely to see containers polluting our environment, such is their prevalence.
I believe introducing a container deposit scheme will go a long way to reducing the incidence of containers in our environment and the damage they cause.
That is why I jumped at the chance to be a volunteer for the Total Environment Centre on Thursday, which was part of this year’s Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo at Darling Harbour. The Centre is one of many concerned groups that are pressing governments to act on this and other environmental problems.
It was a great day that included the presence of Lisa from the Centre, Silke from Two Hands Project and other volunteers. People attending the expo showed much interest in the subjects and the display.
If you care for our environment, please complete the on-line letter to the NSW Minister for Environment, Robyn Parker at:
http://www.tec.org.au/packaging
There are many other sites of relevance. These are a few:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Total-Environment-Centre/187360609812?ref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/twohandsproject?sk=wall
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cash-for-Containers-Campaign/119661504744578
http://www.facebook.com/CleanUpAust
Editor: Anyone around before the 1960s will remeber the habit of children collecting empty bottles and returning them to the “Bottle-o”. There was little container problems in those days and ongoing South Australian experience supports the practice. Thanks Charles for your time and article.
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Spring is in the air and what better way of spending a spring Saturday than join Fairfield City residents on an Environment Tour (Sat. 15 October 2011).
Fairfield City Council has a long term commitment to water quality along it’s catchment which enter’s Georges River at Chipping Norton Lakes, near Liverpool.
Flying Fox Reserve
Over the past 10 years, a Flying Fox colony was established within a reserve beside Cabramatta Creek, in Cabramatta. A count of approximately 10, 000 flying fox, Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Little Red Flying-Fox (Pterropus scapulatu) inhabit the area during season. Major habitat restoration has been undertaken with residents educated in better netting practices, protect fruit trees and flying-fox welfare.
Limited bush regeneration has established a well cared for reserve and signage helps visitors understand the site’s significance.
Panorama Reserve
Major bushcare has been undertaken in this reserve, funded by the Environmental Trust. Noxious weeds including privet have been removed and creek care re-established. A clear comparison is shown looking to the creek southern bank which is in Liverpool City Council. This portion is clearly overgrown.
Nalawala
During 2008 Nalawala Urban Sustainability Hub was established, including a Community Hall, Native Nursery and Bike repair Shed. The tour took morning tea at the Community Hall, experiencing the variety of actions Fairfield City Council environmental staff have undertaken in the long term environmental plan which is being rolled out. Eddie Ferry deserves congratulations on imaginative signage, one of which shows how a PET bottle or cigarette butt, dropped in Fairfield catchment eventually finds its way to Botany Bay.
The Community Nursery, overseen by Daniel, is run by volunteer staff, who propagate natives from seed to mature plants. This is a creditable effort by Daniel and his team.
Gregorace Place Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT)
Fairfield City Council staff organized regular cleaning of the Gross Pollutant Trap at Gregorace Place, during the tour. The GPT collects rubbish from a 185 hectare catchment in Bonnyrigg. The trap works using centrifugal force dropping waste to the bottom of a large concrete cylinder. A large crane with a bucket removed litter on a cycle of monthly, bimonthly or quarterly, depending on the GPT size.
Water flows, clean of solids, back into the Henty Creek system and on towards Georges River. Signage reminds locals the GPT cost nearly $250,000 to install, removing 50 tonnes of pollutants per year. Syringes are captured by the GPT.
Wilson Creek
Wilson’s Creek flows into Clear Paddock Creek. A major environmental project was undertaken on this site beside Bonnyrigg Sports Club. The creek was deeply eroded and the creek bed was relocated to an area to the right of the older creek bed. Effort was put into flood mitigation with sandstone blocks placed in the river bed and a curving creek bed reducing erosion. The banks were planted with indigenous planting from Nalawala Native Nursery and landscaping established. A raingarden was established along the club driveway, cleansing the water flowing from the street before flowing into the creek. Raingardens are gutters with openings which slow water into a sand gutter with agricultural piping which conveys cleansed water to the creek through a piped system.
Detention Basin W3
Massive works have been undertaken between Smithfield Road and Edensor Road, with a stormwater drainage converted into a Detention Basin, slowing storm water flow, establishing useful amenities and encouraging natural habitat for indigenous flora and fauna. 15,000m3 of earth was moved to construct this massive project.
Big thanks to Eddie Ferry, Nicole Thomas, Erin Sellers and Daniel (Fairfield City Council Staff) for a truly enlightening experience of what can be achieved with long term planning and commitment.
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Details gleaned from the Railway Historical Society (NSW Branch) Railway Digest, October 2011 edition, quoting The True Value of Rail states:
- One passenger train takes 525 cars off the road and in one year one train load of passengers is equal to removing more than three million vehicle kilometres of traffic from roads.
- One freight train in place of trucks between Melbourne and Brisbane reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as a household of three going without electricity for 46 years.
- One trainload of passengers travelling by rail instead of car for one year reduces accident costs by an amount that could fund 130 hospital visits, 505 hospital beds per day or six doctors for one year.
- In one year one passenger train reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as planting 600 hectares of trees. This would cover Sydney’s CBD, Hyde Park, The Domain, Botanical Gardens, Pyrmont and Central station or an area 8.5 times the size of Brisbane’s CBD.
In Other News
The NSW Legislative Council has commenced an Inquiry into rail infrastructure project costing. The Legislative Council is concerned at cost structures for major infrastructure projects which seem to be more expensive than those for similar projects interstate.
The Committee will be chaired by Natasha Maclaren-Jones M.L.C. Submissions closed 21 September and hearing will be held during November – December 2011.
The NSW Government has appointed Hutchison Port Holdings, to operate Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre. Sydney Ports Corporation estimates the new rail corridor arrangment between Port Botany and Enfield will help remove 300 truck movements from Port Botany each day.
A single line from Port Botany to Sydenham was recently criticised by Duncan Gay, Minister for Ports and Roads, as a sticking point for container transportation. The line has a level crossing at Mascot, flagged as a major safety issue for the line. Federal funding for duplication was used for signalling upgrades instead.
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The NSW Government has announced final outcomes for the proposed proclamation of “Dharawal National Park”. 98.7% of the present conservation reserve will be National Park to the Centre of the Earth. Below is an extract from NSW Legislative Assemby Hansard 17 October 2011, where the Premier clarified the Government’s decision.
DHARAWAL NATIONAL PARK
Mr LEE EVANS: My question is addressed to the Premier. What progress has the Government made on the establishment of Dharawal National Park?
Mr BARRY O’FARRELL: I thank the member for Heathcote for his answer and long-term commitment to the State’s environment. I am delighted to inform the House that we have achieved a significant milestone in the creation of Dharawal National Park, which, hopefully, will see this new national park established by the end of the year. I am delighted that BHP Billiton has modified its planning application for the Bulli coal project to exclude the area of the proposed Dharawal National Park. The Government also has informed other holders of mineral and petroleum exploration interests in the area of its intention to create a national park in which mining activities will not be allowed to take place. This is a win-win situation: it is good for the environment and it is good for jobs. It will protect the current mining-associated jobs—mining activities cover 1.3 per cent of the State conservation area—while preserving the remaining 98.7 per cent forever as national park free from mining.
The national park will be established without any depth restrictions. This means no mining, no fracking and no coal seam gas extraction. The creation of Dharawal National Park will be a big win for the local community, which has fought for many years for the protection of the area. At the same time, jobs and investment in the Illawarra have been protected. This has been done at no cost to taxpayers and with no compensation and no deals. The national park will protect an iconic part of the Illawarra escarpment and preserve forever its extraordinary biodiversity, including endangered plants and animals, such as, Sydney’s largest surviving koala population—outside of the front bench opposite.
The SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members will come to order.
Mr BARRY O’FARRELL: I have been out there and walked this area, as has the Minister for Roads and Ports and the Minister for the Environment, who has done a terrific job on this initiative. I urge everyone to get out there and have a look at an incredible part of the natural environment of this city and State. Talking about people who have visited this area, one such person was that avid bushwalker and sometime State Premier Bob Carr, who did so in November 1993 when he was Leader of the Opposition. I just happen to have with me a copy of the Macarthur Advertiser, my usual bedside reading matter, which details that trip. It actually shows Bob Carr drinking—something that is not often seen. He is drinking from a pool of water at O’Hares Creek. Mr Carr said at the time, in the lead-up to the 1995 election when this area was fully located within the electorate of Camden:
The Dharawal National Park will be created in the first year of a Labor Government. This park is needed to protect the Georges River catchment from pollution.
Was it created in 1995, the first year of the Labor Government? No. Was it created in the first term of the Labor Government, which ended in 1999? No. For 16 years Labor failed to deliver on that promise.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Canterbury will come to order.
Mr BARRY O’FARRELL: We have done in six months what it failed to do in 16 years, that is, protect this critical area, which includes 2,000 upland swamps, rich in plant and animal life, that feed pristine water to O’Hares Creek, the headwaters of the Georges River—from which the former Premier drank. The area is home to 20 endangered or vulnerable animal species—and I am not talking about those opposite—such as koalas and eastern pygmy possums and three nationally significant plant species. The Dharawal also contains, as I have seen, significant Aboriginal cultural material, including sites as well as magnificent rock art. When this project is established the community will have improved visitor access so that they can enjoy the park’s most outstanding natural and cultural features, such as, natural swimming holes, waterfalls and stunning gorges. We have plans to declare this national park by the end of the year, which hopefully will allow families to enjoy this wonderful piece of Sydney and New South Wales during the summer holidays.”
BBaCA Comment: BBaCA congratulates the Premier, Minister for Environment and State Member for Oatley, Mark Coure for bringing a great National Park to Southern Sydney. 98.7% of the area will be to the Centre of the Earth. This means No Mining, No Longwalling, No Coal Seam Gas exploration, extraction or fracking. And there will be no compensation paid for mining leases and operations. What a great outcome.
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The following article was published in the Spring 2011 edition of “Track and Signal” and published by kind permission of Mr Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure.
The idea that Australia may join other nations with our own high speed rail network has excited rail enthusiasts across the nation and potential investors around the world. The convenience of stepping onto a train in central Sydney and hopping off just three hours later in Melbourne is an attractive proposition. High speed rail could indeed be a game changer in the way Australians choose to travel.
While there is still a great deal of work to be done, early research shows that a high speed rail could connect almost 65 percent of Australians and attract up to 54 million passengers a year. It would also provide the foundation for a low carbon, high productivity economy. In August, I released Stage One of a $20 million implementation study which examines how many people would use it, where it would go and travel times.
Crucially, the report also looked at cost. Preliminary findings show that the cost of the network, if operational by 2036, would be between $61 billion and $108 billion in today’s figures, depending on the route. A ticket from Melbourne to Sydney would cost between $100 and $200, while the potentially busy commuter route from Newcastle to Sydney could cost users between $60 for the occasional business traveller, down to $16.50 for daily users if a subsidy were to be made available.
Work on Stage Two of the study is currently underway and it will pin down a preferred alignment and station options. It will also look more closely at commercial viability, potential funding sources and advise on how to plan, construct and operate such a rail system. What is clear is that high-speed rail would have enormous environmental benefits with CO2 emissions per high speed rail customer standing at about one-third of those emitted if they were travelling by car.
There are also enormous economic benefits in connecting Australians by high-speed rail. It would open up regional centres to economic development beyond our major cities and ease road congestion. However, it is critical that we hasten with caution. Such a monumental endeavour must be thoroughly assessed to be sure it would be viable with our vast distances and relatively modest population. One thing we do know is that if it is to work, it must be integrated into the existing rail and other transport networks.
With the national eye turned to high-speed rail it is important to remember that major work is currently underway on our existing network. Right now, one third of our inter-state rail network is being rebuilt with some 45 major freight and passenger rail projects completed, underway or about to begin. This week I announced that the multi-million dollar project to eliminate sharp bends on the interstate rail network between Newcastle and the Queensland border had reached another milestone with the realignment of the track now completed at two more sights. By straightening the line between Mindaribba and Paterson and between Nambucca Heads and Raleigh, trains will now be able to operate at higher speeds, shaving almost an hour off transit times. Work along the Brisbane – Melbourne line will eventuate in a total saving of a remarkable 11 hours, reducing the trip from 37 to 26 hours. It includes extended crossing loops, new signalling systems and the removal of severe curves.
The work is already paying dividends. Earlier this year, Australia’s largest supermarket chain Woolworths announced that it was planning to switch to rail to carry the 2,000 tonnes of goods it moves north each week to Sydney and Brisbane. Making rail attractive to companies such as Woolworths makes great sense, with every 1500 metre train having the carrying capacity of 100 semi-trailer trucks. Woolworths alone has 160 B-double trucks on the Melbourne to Brisbane route. Carrying those loads by rail leaves our roads safer and less congested for private motorists and reduces our carbon footprint.
We are also investing heavily in urban passenger rail, a responsibility that usually rests with the states. In fact we have at least one major urban rail project in place in every mainland state, a $7.3 billion investment. Federal Labor has invested more in urban rail than all previous federal governments collectively since Federation.
At Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) in August, an agreement was secured with major implications for the rail sector. The Prime Minister, Premier and Chief Ministers signed off on a plan to replace a myriad of confusing and often contradictory state transport rules in favour of a single national rail regulator. To be based in Adelaide, this new regulator will be in place by 1 January 2013 with one set of rules for rail workers and operators around the nation.
This historic achievement eliminates seven regulators, 46 separate pieces of legislation including seven safety acts, nine OH&S acts and seven dangerous good acts. For example, no longer will a rail operator be required to get separate safety accreditation from each state and meet different requirements for accreditation. The new law will also get rid of the differing rules for managing fatigue, replacing them with a national fatigue management framework. The deal, which will also see single regulators for the heavy vehicle and maritime sectors, will boost national income by $30 billion over the next two decades.
Rail travel has been part of the Australian landscape since the 1850s when the country was a collection of sparsely connected colonies. The 20th century saw the rise of road and air travel. In this 21st century, the Gillard Labor Government recognises that rail is the transport technology of the future. It has backed this with unprecedented investment so that Australians can reap the benefits and enjoy the greater productivity and environmental benefits that rail brings.
BBaCA Comment: With many pressures on Botany Bay and Catchment from ever expanding airport and port facilities, the Commonwealth Government support for electified High Speed Rail is good news. Converting 54 million passenger trips per year to city to city rail journey’s will reduce needs for Kingsford Smith domestic road traffic. It is pleasing that Premier Barry O’Farrell in NSW sees High Speed Rail as a better option to a second Sydney region airport.
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Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance congratulates Premier Barry O’Farrell, and Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, on adoption of the O’Reilly Report in full following the Orica Kooragang Island Emmissions incident. Proposed legislative change, with an independant Environmental Watchdog, public notification strengthened and major fines imposed will improve the everyday lives of communities, who by necessity must live adjacent to hazardous operations. Marked changes have been observed in communications at Botany Industrial Park.
Below is the announcement on the New South Wales Government website:
Tough new pollution laws: O’Reilly report accepted in full
5 October 2011
The NSW Government today announced tough new pollution laws, including requiring immediate notification of pollution incidents and a doubling of fines to $2 million for failing to do so. It will also urgently establish an environmental monitoring network for the Lower Hunter area.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for the Environment Robyn Parker said the NSW Government would accept all the recommendations of the O’Reilly report into the incident at the Orica plant at Kooragang Island on 8 August 2011.
“The people of Stockton were let down and went through unnecessary worry and frustration as a result of this incident which is most regrettable,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“The incident highlighted weaknesses in the State’s environmental protection laws and my Government is taking urgent action to correct those faults.
“These new laws will be among the toughest in the nation and are designed to ensure companies can no longer flout the State’s pollution laws and put the public at risk.”
Legislation to be introduced into Parliament next week will implement recommendations of the O’Reilly report including:
- Requiring pollution incidents to be immediately reported, not notified ‘as soon as practicable’;
- Establishing the Environmental Protection Authority as an independent, statutory authority headed by a Chief Environmental Regulator to better regulate polluting industries; and,
- Improving procedures to require improved public notification, community engagement and emergency planning and response exercises around pollution incidents.
In addition, the legislation will also:
- Double to $2 million the maximum penalty for failing to report an incident immediately;
- Require notification of pollution incidents to the EPA, NSW Health, NSW Fire and Rescue, WorkCover, NSW Police and the local council;
- Urgently establish an industry-funded network of environmental monitors for communities adjacent to the heavy industrial precinct of the Lower Hunter;
- Expand community ‘right to know’ by requiring industry make its monitoring results available to the public and expanding the information on the EPA’s public register;
- Create a community advisory committee for the people of Newcastle, particularly the suburbs of Stockton and Mayfield; and,
- Clarify the EPA’s powers to conduct mandatory environmental audits.
Mr O’Farrell said the Lower Hunter community, especially around Stockton and Mayfield, can be assured of up to date information about air quality with the urgent establishment of an environmental monitoring network.
The EPA will consult with the local community and industry on the development of the monitoring network.
“This strong package of changes will give the EPA back its bite,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“The new Chief Environmental Regulator will ensure companies which deal with toxic materials do so with public safety as their priority.
“Companies with environmental licences will be required to have pollution incident management response plans in place which include community notification and communication protocols.
“The creation of these emergency management plans will ensure protocols are in place for public notifications and warnings as directed by the relevant authorities, including the EPA, NSW Health, NSW Fire and Rescue and the NSW Police.
“Inter-agency communication is highlighted as an issue in the O’Reilly report and it is important the agreements already in place between these agencies are clarified to ensure the roles, responsibilities and contact arrangements for responding to pollution incidents are clear to everyone involved,” he said.
Ms Parker said as part of the NSW Government‟s comprehensive response she directed the EPA to establish a new community advisory and consultative committee in the Lower Hunter to help co-ordinate information between residents and local industry.
“One of their first tasks will be to participate in the design and establishment of a new industry funded environmental monitoring network for the areas in and around Kooragang,” Ms Parker said.
“While it’s important to remember that according to the Chief Health Officer the recent incidents involving Orica have not resulted in any health impacts to locals, they have highlighted the need for better community information – and the new laws will deliver it,” Ms Parker said.
Read the O’Reilly Report by clicking below:
http://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Orica-review.pdf
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“Public Safety is the role of Government”, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, has stated. He has walked the streets of Stockton, discussing issues with local residents. Unfortunately he hasn’t motored a few kilometres south of his Parliament House Office to speak with residents of Hillsdale, Matraville, Botany, Banksmeadow and Pagewood, who have similar or greater concerns following 150 years of urban pollution.
The Kooragang Island and Botany Orica accidents in recent weeks have brought into clear focus glaring omissions. The Premier and Minister for Heritage and Environment, Robyn Parker, are drafting legislative changes to bring public confidence back after it was shattered by emmissions from chemical plants in suburban Newcastle and Sydney.
What lessons have been learned?
1. Notification to the community was lacking!
While company executives knew of emissions, they were slow responding with meaningful information to people whose lives were effected.
2. State Legislation allowed lengthy delays in emergency information distribution.
NSW legislation allows reporting mechanisms with too much latitude for good public communication.
3. There seems limited Emergency Evacuation Procedures in place for Public Safety.
The steps for Emergency Evacuation and notification seem to be a secret held in public service, emergency service backrooms and Local Government Offices, which the general public are not privy to. “They might not be able to handle such information” seems the nanny state reply. Lazy government is no longer acceptable in the 21st Century. Modern technology can notify emergency situations, but what should the general public do before evacuation is in processed?
In Southern Sydney, Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor has clear instructions to local residents. Distributed in clear brochures and prominently on their website.
For Botany there is limited distribution frig magnets but no easily accessible information.
4. Real Planning requires buffer zones.
In the 1980s Orica Botany removed it’s old Chlorine Plant and established a state of the arts facility. During that time a State Government study was implemented requiring buffer zones and emergency plans for hazardous transport on-site and offsite. These buffers were clearly mapped and no buildings were allowed.
Over the past sixteen years, Planning Department density requirements hasseen this land subdivided and housing built. Were the subdivision titles caviated with safety warnings by the Planning Department or local Council? You would have thought this would be the moral thing to do, but no. People have bought new housing without public health warnings.
Emergency Plans for various Botany Industrial Park sites are in the hands of the companies producing the items in question. Mercury Vapor Monitoring equipment was established on the Botany Orica site after full consultation with the local community liaison committee as best practice. There were no such devises at Kooragang Island and limited community consultation before during and after the balloon wentup over omission releases. Once again Emergency Evacuation Plans are held in secret by public servants. “The people might become frightened if they knew we had one”. During a recent emergency in Botany, houses were evacuated and Botany Town Hall was set up for emergency overnight accommodation, but no-one knows the plan exists.
5. State Government Timely Advice and Information.
The state machine has slowed, with the Office of Heritage and Environment and Ministry of Health taking longer to respond to emergencies than necessary.
Following the Botany Mercury Vapor Emission, new haste was observed. Orica, NSW Health and Office of Heritage and Environment, emailed notifications to Botany Orica CLC members and people who registered with the company and a later letterbox drop on a limited basis was undertaken. This was a good first step in updating local community – But a lot more is required.
6. Public Health Tests
Those who have lived in Botany and surrounds for years have quiet concerns about potential illnesses generated by 150 years on pollution in this industrial suburb and Port Botany complex. There is no centralised health information available to the General Community.
7. Up Front Information Important
During the period of public concern, various statements have been made by politicians, news media and community representatives. It is important only verified information is published to the public. In recent news releases statements have been made that mercury was flowing into Penryn Estuary and Botany Bay. At a recent community meeting an explaination was requested and it was found this information was very old and mercury was not flowing into the Bay.
There is room for improvement and we must get our act right.
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