Page 2199 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 August 2014
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Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act, pursuant to section 13—Annual Report 2012-2013—Health Directorate—Corrigendum, dated August 2014.
Environment—former Koppers site
Paper and statement by minister
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Capital Metro): For the information of members, I present the following paper:
Groundwater Investigation—Stage 1 Development Area—Monaro Highway, Hume, ACT—Independent analysis of the former Koppers site and surrounding area, dated 24 July 2014, prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd for the Land Development Agency, pursuant to the resolution of the Assembly of 9 April 2014, as amended 3 June 2014, concerning the management of environmental reporting.
I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: I am pleased to table today the independent analysis of the former Koppers site and surrounding area. I am further pleased to report to members that the independent analysis has confirmed the previous scientific findings and conclusions. In fact, the independent experts have concluded that, given their analysis:
… no further investigation or ongoing monitoring of groundwater is necessary for the surrounding area.
Specifically, the findings of the independent review were:
• Groundwater abstraction in the area is regulated by ACT EPA under Water Resources Act 2007. Appropriate licence conditions can ensure potential risks associated with direct contact and changes in hydrological conditions can be managed.
• Based on total dissolved solid concentrations and observed slow and inconsistent recoveries, groundwater is considered an unsuitable resource for beneficial use. Thus property owners are unlikely to seek licences for its use.
• Very low concentrations of chromium 6 were identified in groundwater within fractured rock 11.6m below ground surface, therefore direct contact is unlikely.
• Chromium 6 concentrations of groundwater in fractured rock within former Koppers site area are decreasing and further expansion of the plume is considered unlikely. Chromium 6 concentrations of groundwater in shallow ephemeral soil aquifer within former Koppers site are also decreasing and lack of detection in wells down gradient of source area (except at one location which was at limit of detection).
• Distance to the closest surface water, and the depth of the water table in the rock aquifer, no discharge of Chromium 6 groundwater to surface water in the vicinity of the former Koppers site is expected.
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