Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-08-05 Daily Xml

Contents

Site Contamination, Hendon Area

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation a question about contamination.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The EPA first advised residents in May 2012 in the Hendon, Albert Park, Seaton and Royal Park area not to use bore water for any purpose. My questions to the minister are:

1. What subsequent warnings have been provided to residents not to use bore water and, in particular, residents who have moved into the area after May 2012?

2. When did the EPA decide to conduct soil vapour testing in the area?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:38): Again, I reiterate that this is the fifth communication, as I understand it, with residents in the area. The information that has gone out to residents about bore water I think was in 2012.

In December 2011, however, the EPA commenced a review of the site. On 27 April 2012, the EPA was informed of a report prepared by Coffey Partners International. On 2 May 2012, the EPA received that report from the current site owner of an industrial property in Hendon. The report provided historical information that identified the presence of those chemicals I outlined earlier. In May 2012, the EPA advised residents within parts of Hendon, Albert Park, Seaton and Royal Park not to use groundwater for any purpose.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: That was in May?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: In May 2012, is my advice. The EPA also offered to test private and domestic groundwater bores in the assessment area. The advice to registered bore owners, and anybody else the EPA communicates with, is that they should have their bore water tested annually, regardless of where they are in Adelaide, but, in 2012, as I say, we advised residents not to use groundwater for any purpose whatsoever. In August 2012, a site contamination consultant was engaged by the EPA to undertake the environmental assessment works in the area that I referred to earlier.