Ministerial Statement

EDWARDSTOWN GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (12:00): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I have been advised that a groundwater contamination, extending beyond the known original area of contamination at the former Hills Industries site in Edwardstown, has been identified and reported to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

I am advised that, in August 2009, the EPA was notified of harm to groundwater, in accordance with the Environment Protection Act 1993, by Colonial First State (which now owns the former Hills property) and its consultants. The groundwater assessment at this time was limited to the Hills site. At the request of the EPA, a further series of groundwater investigation wells were drilled and installed in an attempt to delineate the contaminated plumes. Analysis of the samples collected from these wells progressively identified further off-site groundwater contamination.

As a result of this additional work, the EPA was notified of updated information on the extent of the groundwater plume extending well off-site on 14 February 2011 that for the first time was in an area that was likely to affect registered domestic bores. The mid-February report presented to the EPA also included a human health assessment report that concluded that the chemical concentrations of the PCE, one of the industrial solvents found in the groundwater, has the potential to result in a risk to human health.

The report recommended assessment of indoor air quality, which is likely to occur in a small number of houses, in order to evaluate the potential vapour intrusion issues—that is, chemicals moving from the groundwater, through the soil and into the air. This information was then assessed by the EPA in conjunction with the Department of Health last week.

The contamination consists of hydrocarbons associated with fuels and metal-cleaning solvents. I am advised that the contamination is likely to have resulted from historical use and historical practices. The EPA has defined an area that includes the known groundwater contamination, as well as a buffer for further potential contamination. It includes approximately 2,000 properties in the Edwardstown region, which is bounded by Marion Road to the west, Oval Terrace and Nelson Street to the south, Railway Terrace to the east and Maxwell Avenue and Melville Street to the north.

In relation to the known original site of contamination, I am informed that since August 2009 the EPA and the Department of Health have been working closely together to ensure that responses are commensurate with the risks to public health. Both departments are continuing to work together to determine further action that may be required as more information about the extended area of contamination becomes available.

Communicating to potentially affected households is a key priority to ensure that risks are identified and addressed, as well as avoiding unnecessary alarm in the local community. I am advised that the EPA is providing a letter to all properties within the defined area, recommending the immediate cessation of the use of groundwater for any purpose until further notice. The letter will also include a Department of Health leaflet on the safe use of groundwater.

The EPA has also informed key organisations, such as the City of Marion, the Department of Education and Children's Services and staff from the Forbes Primary School, (which is within the identified buffer zone), Housing SA, and the Department of Planning and Local Government.

The EPA has become adept in its management of processes in relation to these types of matters, assisted of course by the government's legislative change in July 2009 that included a mandatory duty to report harm to groundwater. The EPA has informed me that Hills and Colonial First State are working cooperatively with it and have indicated that they will continue to respond positively to any direction from the EPA. The EPA is expected to be holding a press conference about this matter shortly.