Meriton Commission of Inquiry 

Minister's consent documents

Submissions on draft conditions of Minister's consent (Word 477kb)

Draft conditions for public comment (Word 53 kb)

 Meriton COI Reports, 10 July 2003

  * Findings, recomendations, summary and full report are on COI Website: http://www.coi.nsw.gov.au/Rhodes.html (If link is broken and documents cannot be obtained ring Paul Hanly on 9736 2419.

Summary of some important recommendations

1. The remediation using Direct Thermal Desorption can safely proceed, subject to proposed controls.

2. Contaminated dust from the site is the major source of off site health risk and needs strictest controls.

3. Dioxin contamination of nearby residences through dust is a reasonable concern and should be tested and monitored.

4. Soil to be remediated to 1,000 ppt dioxins (similar to US generally accepted standard and some other recent international standards) ) not 1470 as proposed by EarthTech.

5. Top 0.5 metre in open space areas to have max 85 ppt dioxins (less than Michigan standard of 90 ppt).

6. Dioxin reformation while possible is likely to be insignificant based on use of Baghouse before incinerator with Remedia catalytic bags.

7. Reasonable public reporting and continued Community Liaison Group funded by remediator (EarthTech), with funding of experts, particularly during commissioning trials.

8. Comprehensive commissioning process and trials.

9. Reasonable limits on noise including, lower limits at night.

10. Recommedations re proactive odour control, not merely responsive.

11. Reasonable complaints mechanism

12. Remediator coordination required between sites.

13. Proponent must have Environment Officer to coordinate and report.

14. Water control programs for "dirty" water and controls on discharges to Homebush Bay and sewer.

Major Disappointments

1. Inadequate specific recommendations re cumulative limits on dust, noise, odour, dioxin to nearby properties.

2. No recommended standard for maximum dioxin on nearby properties.  It should be 85 ppt same as on top layer of remediated sites.

3. No continuous sampling of dioxin stack emissions (but reasonable monitoring of some other stack emissions and process parameters).

4. Only a few checks on dioxin stack emissions over life of project.

5. No testing to confirm view that dioxin formation in atmosphere will be insignificant.

6. Adoption of NZ average dioxin intake data without adjustment in recognition of regional differences of up to 30% within NZ and greater industrialisation of Sydney (but this is partly ameliorated by using 1,000 ppt dioxin instead of 1470 ppt as proposed and by having 85 ppt dioxin cover of 0.5 metres).

7. Failure to separately analyse dioxin intakes and body burdens of children, but this is ameliorated by the top 0.5 metres having maximum 85 ppt dioxins (but 0.5 metre - length of garden fork  prongs - without marker between  85 ppt and 1000 ppt soils and process to ensure 0.5 metres of max 85 ppt is maintained is inadequate).

8. No recommendation re retention of major trees at Point Park.

9. Incineration of the contaminated gases desorbed from the soil is NOT ??? incineration!!!!

Submission in Rebuttal to Meriton COI

Submission to Commission of Enquiry (abridged regarding certain allegations - full version available from Commission of Enquiry)
    * COI submission (Word 2000, 190 kb)

2 Submissions to Planning NSW (a third in relation to allegations made by another person is available from the Commission of Enquiry Offices) offices)
    * NZ Health Risk Assessment (Word 2000, 44kb)
    *  General Submission (Word 2000, 81 kb)

Letter Announcing Meriton COI