Ministerial Statement

Site Contamination, Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:19): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement on the results of environmental assessment at Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Late yesterday morning, the EPA received the environmental assessment report for Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park from its contractor, Fyfe Pty Ltd. In line with the government's commitment to update residents as soon as possible, doorknocking of affected residents commenced yesterday afternoon. The report is the culmination of extensive analysis of soil, soil vapour, groundwater and other geotechnical data over the past few weeks, after drilling, testing and sampling commenced in the Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park assessment area on 25 August 2014.

The report provides the best picture yet of the nature and extent of contamination and the health risks for those living in the assessment area as a result of trichloroethene (TCE) exposure. The overwhelmingly good news for residents of Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park is that there is no need to recommend further relocations. Residents are being advised not to take or use groundwater.

Of the approximately 1,400 properties in the assessment area, approximately 1,350 have no predicted detection of TCE in soil vapour. I am advised that these properties were letterbox dropped yesterday afternoon to inform residents that they are considered to be safe and that no further investigation is required.

Twenty-five properties in the assessment area had predicted indoor air levels of less than 2 micrograms of TCE per cubic metre of air and are also considered to be safe, with some further validation work to occur in the coming months. Six occupied properties within the relocation area fell within the 2 to 20 micrograms of TCE per cubic metre of air range and will require further investigation. However, there is no immediate health risk associated with this range.

Three occupied properties within the relocation area have predicted levels in the 20 to 200 micrograms of TCE per cubic metre range, but in the lower end of the range. Relocation of these three residents has already been arranged as part of Housing SA's relocation plan, which was initiated in July this year, and I understand they will be relocated in the next fortnight.

There are four Housing SA tenants in the relocation area who at this stage have chosen not to relocate. Of these four, one property sits in the 2 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre range, and three have predicted indoor air levels of less than 2 micrograms per cubic metre. Housing SA will continue to work with them to facilitate the recommended location and to ensure that their ongoing needs are being addressed.

The project team has also sent letters to property owners living outside of the assessment area, as well as recently relocated residents of Clovelly Park, to inform them of the assessment results. Further information regarding the results will be provided to all residents and property owners early next week. This will include a summary of the report, a letter from the EPA outlining the specific assessment results for individual properties and further information about next steps.

In the meantime, the project team will continue to be on the ground and available to the community if they have any questions or concerns. Members of the team will be available at the Mitchell Park Neighbourhood Centre today from 4pm until 8pm, on Friday 5 December between 10am and 2pm and next week on Wednesday 10 December 2014 between 3pm and 8pm. The project team can also be contacted around the clock by email at cpmpproject@sa.gov.au or through the information hotline, 1800 770 174. A copy of the report and other information about the process of assessment can be accessed at the project website, CPMPproject.sa.gov.au.