❓ A parliamentary question regarding lead contamination at the South Beach Village development site, focusing on potential health risks and the adequacy of remediation efforts. The Minister's response acknowledges the reports but emphasizes adherence to the site management plan and health guidelines.
AnsweredQoN 970Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the LandCorp section of South Beach Village south of Fremantle. In answer to my question without notice 697, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure stated that she was satisfied that the Western Australian Planning Commission had met its duty of care on the site. (1) If this is the case, is the minister aware that recent independent tests commissioned by the community consultative committee have revealed evidence of 583 parts per million lead, which is significantly above the legal limit of 300 ppm? (2) If so, what action does the minister plan to take; and if further decontamination of the site is to be undertaken, how will this be done now that the soil has been disrupted? (3) Is the minister aware that the cognitive development of children can be affected by lead levels above 100 ppm; and how can the minister justify endangering future generations by allowing residential development on this contaminated site? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(1) If this is the case, is the minister aware that recent independent tests commissioned by the community consultative committee have revealed evidence of 583 parts per million lead, which is significantly above the legal limit of 300 ppm? (2) If so, what action does the minister plan to take; and if further decontamination of the site is to be undertaken, how will this be done now that the soil has been disrupted? (3) Is the minister aware that the cognitive development of children can be affected by lead levels above 100 ppm; and how can the minister justify endangering future generations by allowing residential development on this contaminated site? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(2) If so, what action does the minister plan to take; and if further decontamination of the site is to be undertaken, how will this be done now that the soil has been disrupted? (3) Is the minister aware that the cognitive development of children can be affected by lead levels above 100 ppm; and how can the minister justify endangering future generations by allowing residential development on this contaminated site? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(3) Is the minister aware that the cognitive development of children can be affected by lead levels above 100 ppm; and how can the minister justify endangering future generations by allowing residential development on this contaminated site? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(1) If this is the case, is the minister aware that recent independent tests commissioned by the community consultative committee have revealed evidence of 583 parts per million lead, which is significantly above the legal limit of 300 ppm? (2) If so, what action does the minister plan to take; and if further decontamination of the site is to be undertaken, how will this be done now that the soil has been disrupted? (3) Is the minister aware that the cognitive development of children can be affected by lead levels above 100 ppm; and how can the minister justify endangering future generations by allowing residential development on this contaminated site? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(2) If so, what action does the minister plan to take; and if further decontamination of the site is to be undertaken, how will this be done now that the soil has been disrupted? (3) Is the minister aware that the cognitive development of children can be affected by lead levels above 100 ppm; and how can the minister justify endangering future generations by allowing residential development on this contaminated site? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(3) Is the minister aware that the cognitive development of children can be affected by lead levels above 100 ppm; and how can the minister justify endangering future generations by allowing residential development on this contaminated site? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(1) The Department of Environment is aware of anecdotal reports of these lead levels but has not been provided with the details of the testing methodologies, nor an official copy of the analytical results. No comment can therefore be provided on the implications of the results. (2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
(2) The department understands that LandCorp is completing the site development works in accordance with the site management plan. This site management plan addresses, among other things, protocols to be followed if any unforeseen ground conditions are encountered. LandCorp has advised the department that on 21 October 2005 a small area of approximately 0.7 metres by five metres by four metres of soil containing slightly elevated levels of lead, zinc and copper was identified. In accordance with the site management plan, work was halted and this soil was subsequently excavated and deposited appropriately to landfill, followed by validation testing to confirm that the impacted soil had been successfully removed. (3) The site had been remediated to the satisfaction of both the Department of Environment and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has advised that the site does not pose a risk to public health and is suitable for the proposed residential development. This assessment is based on national guidelines for lead concentrations in soil for residential land use.
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