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Government dilutes BHP toxic clean upMedia release 16th October, 2007 The State Government has removed conditions imposed to limit pollution that will seep into the Hunter River following dredging operations to remove contaminated sediment left behind by BHP from their former steelworks site.
The Planning Minister last month approved changes to the conditions imposed on the dredging that were designed to protect public safety and the environment.
More than 13 million tonnes of sediment would be removed from the South Arm of the Hunter River to make way for the new coal loader and 450,000 cubic metres of it is highly toxic.
The Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group have applied for a pollution license for the dredging of the clean sediment but the Hunter Community Environment Centre has written to the State Government asking that no licenses be granted.
“If this goes ahead, toxic contaminates may leach from the remediation site into the River. The Government has now removed conditions that would have ensured that concentrations of these contaminates did not exceed internationally agreed pollution guidelines,” said Georgina Woods, of the Hunter Community Environment Centre.
“We have serious concerns that commercial interests are dictating the terms of this project. Why would the Government agree to remove stipulated pollution limits that have been designed to protect the public?”
“This dredging may now seriously jeopardise the environmental health of our estuary and potentially public safety. We are calling on the Government to reinstate the pollution limits for the protection of the people of Newcastle and the wildlife of the Hunter Estuary.
“The NSW Government appears to be placing the short term interests of impatient coal companies ahead of the health of the Hunter estuary ecosystem, and all other users of the river, including the local fishing fleet. This kind of dereliction of duty keeps happening again and again when it comes to the coal port expansion.
The NCIG are still awaiting environmental licences that are required before dredging can commence.
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