Page 4025 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 20 September 2011
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ACT Health, based on the results of this testing, concluded that risk to the health of people in this area from chemicals released in the fire is low. On this basis, the incident controller for the recovery phase decided on Sunday evening to reduce the Mitchell exclusion zone to the area immediately surrounding the fire; that is, Dacre, Tooth and Pelle streets.
To further reduce the very low risk posed by any material deposited by the fire, ACT Health issued information for people returning to Mitchell. This is a series of simple precautions designed to avoid accidental exposure, including such things as washing hands after cleaning premises and washing any food left in the open. People were also advised that if they encountered any unfamiliar ash, liquid or solid material at their premises, they should contact Canberra Connect, who would advise a visit with the EPA.
The remaining exclusion zone that is still in place is necessary because of the extensive presence of a residue which does not pose a significant human health hazard but which can best be cleaned up under the supervision of the EPA. Once this is completed, access back into that area, except for a site around the factory and its immediate environs, will be allowed.
The EPA is now focused on three key tasks:
analysis of the remainder of the test results, once they have been completed by the Lidcombe laboratory, to allow any further necessary environmental protection or remediation measures to be put in place;
clean-up of the fire site itself to ensure that it is no longer a potential source of contamination; and
clean-up of other areas, especially the bunded ponds and affected waterways.
This last task is already underway. Liquid and solid waste is being removed by expert and appropriately authorised contractors to secure sites from where it will eventually be remediated and then properly disposed of under strict conditions.
The EPA will continue to monitor the impact of the incident on the environment over the long term and will use the coercive powers under the Environment Protection Act to ensure that the owner meets its obligations in relation to the restoration and clean-up of the incident site. Temporary bunding will remain in place in waterways and around the site until clean-ups are complete.
Again, reflecting this government’s commitment to transparency on this matter, I have asked the EPA to put all the final test results and associated information, along with contextual advice, on its website as soon as is practicable.
Let me now turn to the planning and regulation of this facility. The first point I would make is that this is the only hazardous chemical processing facility of its type in the ACT. On 28 March 2008 a development application was lodged for the proposed
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