Site Contamination, Hendon Area

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Firstly, when was the minister first informed that there was TCE contamination in a childcare centre in Hendon? Is the childcare centre the only building which has had soil vapour testing?

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: You've stumped him with that one; bowled him right out. Back to No. 39.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:09): No; it's No. 35, actually. Exposure—where can I start?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I could, but I will need to decide if I can launch straight into the answer for the honourable member.

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: In your own time.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Thank you, the Hon. Mr Lucas, for your patience.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: Don't thank him, what about thanking me for the question?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I haven't got anything to thank you for yet, Mr Stephens—I may do in a moment. I thank the honourable member for his most important question—he is chuffed now. I will go through the investigation history for the honourable member once more.

In December 2011 the EPA commenced an historic file review for a site at Hendon, which identified on-site groundwater contamination. On 27 April 2012, the EPA was informed of a third report prepared by Coffey Partners International. On 2 May 2012 the EPA received this report. In May 2012 the EPA advised residents in parts of Hendon, Albert Park, Seaton and Royal Park not to use groundwater for any purpose. The EPA also offered to test private domestic groundwater bores in the assessment area. In August 2012 a site contamination consultant was engaged by the EPA to undertake environmental assessment works in the area. This involved the drilling and installation of both groundwater and monitoring wells and soil vapour wells on council land, road verges and other locations.

The first report was completed in March 2013 and indicated that chemical substances, predominately PCE and TCE, were present in both groundwater and soil vapour in the assessment area. These chemicals are most likely associated with historical activities in the Hendon industrial area, dating back to when the disposal practices of such chemicals were less regulated.

The report was reviewed by the EPA and the Department for Health and Ageing, and it was determined that additional assessment works were required to better understand the contamination and any risks that its presence may pose. In June and July 2013 a second stage of groundwater and soil vapour testing was undertaken. The report for the second stage of the assessment works was completed in October 2013 and confirmed the presence of chemical substances in groundwater and soil vapour, predominately being PCE and TCE.

The second stage of assessment works largely determined the extent of the groundwater contamination. In March and April 2014 a third stage of assessment work, which included additional groundwater and soil vapour testing, was carried out. This included site specific assessment at a childcare centre. The report for this third round of testing was completed in June 2014. The report confirms that the chemicals PCE, TCE and DCE are present in groundwater and soil vapour. This report advises that it may, under certain circumstances, be possible for the identified chemicals to rise up from the groundwater as vapour.

The report concludes also, I am advised, that the risks associated with indoor air vapour intrusion are currently considered to be acceptable. Whilst the June 2014 report has concluded that the risks from indoor vapour intrusion are acceptable, the EPA considers it appropriate to undertake some further testing to confirm this conclusion and to provide that further assurance for the community I spoke about earlier.

Additional work to confirm soil vapour results is currently being undertaken, and the three assessment reports completed in March 2013, October 2013 and June 2014 are, I understand, available on the EPA website.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The honourable member is very keen to encourage me to continue my answer, so I will.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: It is a very big answer. The EPA has been keeping me apprised of ongoing communication with residents at sites across the city. In relation to this specific communication, I received a briefing from the EPA on Friday 1 August advising that they will be communicating with residents today. This was following a review of the report received from the site contamination consultant, in conjunction with SA Health.

In relation to the childcare status, in March this year the Environment Protection Authority resampled an existing soil vapour well, the first sample, I am advised, in June 2013, which was installed in the car park of the childcare centre. The EPA also undertook sampling in the crawl space and beneath the concrete slab of the childcare centre building. The initial results from March 2014 identified the presence of TCE in the crawl space of the childcare centre at concentrations of 26 micrograms per cubic metre.

The March 2014 findings prompted additional assessment works, where multiple samples were taken from the crawl space and indoor air using two different sampling methods, which I spoke about earlier. These additional assessment works were undertaken on 12 April 2014. Following these works, TCE was detected in both the crawl space and indoor air at the childcare centre, where multiple samples were taken from the crawl space and the indoor air, with concentrations ranging between 3.5 and 11 micrograms per cubic metre in the crawl space and 0.74 to 1.3 micrograms per cubic metre in indoor air.

Whilst TCE has been detected in a crawl space and indoor air of the childcare centre it has not been detected at concentrations above two micrograms per cubic metre in the indoor air of the childcare centre. The EPA and DHA consider there is currently no evidence of a risk to health for the continued use of the site as a childcare centre. It will be necessary to continue to monitor the concentrations of TCE to ensure that the situation does not change with seasonal changes.

On 10 July 2014 the EPA met with the owners of the childcare centre and provided an update on assessment works. Further assessment works determining whether TCE is coming from contaminated groundwater underlying the building or from another pathway commenced on 26 July 2014, and we will continue to keep the owner of the childcare centre and the parents of the children at the centre advised of the results when they become available.

As I advised earlier, in the meantime, the EPA will be holding open house style meetings for parents and caregivers of the children who attend the childcare centre on Monday 11 August from 6pm to 8.30pm and that is the advice I can give the house.

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary, Hon. Ms Lensink.