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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 3918 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

On 29 October, the Health Protection Service contacted ACT Housing and advised that there was a sewage spill at Kelvin Court. A plumbing contractor attended that day and discovered a small overflow at the gully trap adjacent to unit 11. This indicated a blocked sewer which appeared to be cleared following plunging of the trap. The estimated spillage from the trap was less than two litres, as reported to me. The plumber attended the following day and removed approximately four shovelfuls of contaminated soil from around the affected area and treated the area with industrial strength disinfectant.

On 7 November the Health Protection Service advised ACT Housing that they had located the sewage spill in the sub-floor area beneath the building. Access to this area could be gained only by unscrewing the access panel that secured the area. On inspection it was found that sewage had spilled out of an inspection opening near the vertical sewerage tank coming down from the units above. It would appear that this inspection opening cover had been unbolted from the stack for some time, possibly even back as far as the time of construction.

The external line was eeled-you know what that is in Canberra-but that did not clear the blockage. ActewAGL was engaged to water-jet the lines, and that freed the blockage. A sullage truck pumped out and removed the effluent that had settled in a trench adjacent to the foundations in the enclosed area. By 7 pm the clean-up had been substantially completed, and the enclosed area was sealed off until the next day.

On 8 November cleaners removed rubble and spread disinfectant over the affected areas. The same day, a camera put down the sewer line showed that tree roots had penetrated the sewer line, causing the blockage. That is not an unusual occurrence in this town. It was decided that the affected line would have to be excavated and replaced. You are getting a detailed answer here, Mr Cornwell.

On 11 November the Health Protection Service advised ACT Housing that they were not satisfied with the clean-up of the area and requested an on-site inspection on 14 November. At the inspection, the Health Protection Service advised ACT Housing and Transfield that they were satisfied with the action that had been taken but requested that some lime be spread over the affected area, and that has been done.

During the on-site inspection, a tenant raised concerns about potential residual contaminated soil or dust in the general vicinity of the spill and the possibility of contaminated soil particles being walked or blown into tenants' homes or units. The tenant also inquired whether carpets would need to be steam cleaned as a result. The Health Protection Service stated that any possible remaining bacteria would have been destroyed by sunlight and that they would not issue instructions in regard to this matter, as they did not consider it to be a public risk issue.

ACT Housing and Transfield have no knowledge of any damage to personal property. However, I have requested the department to ascertain whether tenants have any further concerns about possible damage to their property-for example, their carpets.

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