Redevelopment and Remediation of the
Rhodes Peninsula

Recommendation 1 26
That the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) publish the rationale and justifications for remediation standards applied to Precincts B and C.
Rationales and justifications should also be published:
if Direct is accepted
if Direct is not regulated as an incinerator
if direct is not subject to PM2.5 monitoring
if direct is not subject to continuous sampling of off gasses (eg AMESA system)
Recommendation 2 44
That the human health study conducted by URS Australia entitled, Human Health and Environmental Risk Assessment of Sediments in Southeast Homebush Bay, be made publicly available by the EPA and City of Canada Bay Council.
A comprehensive ecological and human health assessment taking into account the whole of the bay and the impacts of the AGL and Iron Cove sediments and the contamnination in the Southern Central embayments identified as the most contaminated areas of Sydney Harbour by Dr Gavin Birch.
Recommendation 3 55
That the EPA should only approve a proposal for treatment using the direct thermal desorption (DTD) method if it is convinced that the treatment complies with all the relevant protocols regulating the treatment of dioxin and other organic chemicals.
It should not be approved without public consultation on the use of incineration to "treat" toxic waste. If approved it should be regulated as a new incinerator according to international best practice. If approved a competitive tender should be required for the contract as clause 2.4.4 of the May 1999 Call for Proposals excluded incinerative technologies.
Recommendation 4 55
That in the event of reports that emissions from treatment processes exceed established tolerance levels, the EPA develop an emergency communication plan to provide an effective and prompt response to meet safety concerns, including notification to all affected residents.
This should include a phone list in order of contact with several layers of fallback and with 24 hour 7 day a week availability as the plants can operate 24/7.
Recommendation 5 58
That if indirect thermal desorption (ITD) is identified by the EPA as the preferred treatment technology, the NSW Government should negotiate with Thiess Services to provide supplementary strategies over and above the $20 million originally committed to remediate the proposed areas of Homebush Bay.
The area to be remediated should be reevaluated in the light of the study suggested by us at Recommendation 2 above and to ensure compliance with the proposed Commonwealth standard on Dioxins (2.3 pg/kg/bw/day on a monthly basis).
Recommendation 6 61
That the EPA frequently monitor records of site activities and report to the community liaison groups in order to maintain community confidence in responsible remediation activities.
Reports should be in writing and available on the internet as for OCA.
Recommendation 7 61
That the EPA provide a rapid investigation response to adverse reports by the public during remediation activities.
There should be an EPA Officer with power to issue fines on site 24/7. this is a $3 billion project with over 5,000 peoples health dependent on the effectiveness of the remediation. The proponents should fund this cost.
Recommendation 8 64
That WorkCover ensures that the occupational health and safety strategy in the Remedial Action Plans for Precincts B and C and Homebush Bay incorporate strict requirements modelled on the Homebush Bay Olympic site remediation project.
Workcover requirements should be established in consultation with relevant unions. Complex health risks are not suitable be subject of individual contracts.
Recommendation 9 64
That WorkCover regularly audit remediation activities for adherence to occupational health and safety guidelines.
Recommendation 10 67
The committee recommends that the EPA ensure that air quality control measures implemented by site remediators include:
· limiting open excavation face to a minimum to reduce potential dust and odour
emissions
· covering all stockpile areas
· operation of specific odour control measures and odour suppressants
· inclusion of truck wash down areas to minimise dust disturbance from truck wheels
· use of water sprinklers to suppress dust sources and
· monitoring regimes and emergency triggers to be included in the operation of the
treatment equipment if fugitive stack emissions occur.
Continuous sampling of stack emissions using eg AMESA and monitoring of PM2.5 should also be required for air quality control.
Recommendation 11 68
That the EPA ensure the remediation proponents implement air monitoring measures both adjacent to precincts B and C as well locations further from the peninsula during remediation of those sites.
Recommendation 12 69
That results of air monitoring be made publicly available (including the website
www.rhodesremediation.nsw.gov.au) as part of ongoing community communication and consultation programs.
This web site should have all reports and comprehensive links to dioxin and remediation references and to the Rhodes Peninsula Group website.
Recommendation 13 70
That in the interest of public awareness, NSW Health provide leadership to any community liaison group created to examine health issues of concern. 
NSW Health activities should be internationally benchmarked to best practice.
Recommendation 14 76
That the Waterways Authority, as the owner of the land under Homebush Bay, further investigate measures to remediate dioxin hotspots and other known contaminants.
Waterways should publish and review with public consultation its policies and procedures for identification, analysis and dealing with contaminated sediments with particular emphasis on the areas identified in the works of Dr Gavin Birch including during his presentation to Sydney Harbour Catchment Management Board, namely the sediments in the main stream of the Parramatta River of the AGL site.
Recommendation 15 76
That during remediation and for 12 months after completion of remediation of Homebush Bay:
· sampling of sediment and fish from remediated and non-remediated areas occurs on a quarterly basis and
· data collected from sampling be incorporated in a future human health and
ecological risk assessment.
This sampling should be done for at least 5 years and results should be published including on the website and to local community groups and library.
Recommendation 16 76
That upon completion of remediation of Precincts B and C:
· the total fishing ban remain for a period of at least 12 months
· after 12 months, an independent detailed human health and ecological risk
assessment be conducted sampling sediment and fish from remediated and non-remediated areas of Homebush Bay, and
· the ban remain until it is demonstrated that contaminant levels in fish are reduced to acceptable levels.
Sampling should continue for at least 5 years with results widely publiushed..
Recommendation 17 77
The committee recommends that the EPA, in conjunction with the appropriate regulatory authorities, closely monitor environmental controls and on-site management of remediation works to ensure that the integrity of the environment and the health and safety of workers and the public is not compromised. Environmental controls that should be monitored include:
· surface water, leachate and groundwater management and treatment controls
· erosion and sediment controls
· odour and dust controls and
· noise and traffic measurement and safety measures.
Stack emissions and disposal of waste from the site including protective clothing should also be monitored.
Recommendation 18 77
That the EPA encourage, where possible, the parties remediating Precincts B and C to coordinate remediation activities so that disruption and risk to the community is minimised.
Recommendation 19 78
That the Rhodes Remediation website – www.rhodesremediation.nsw.gov.au be updated and  dedicated as a repository for all information of community interest concerning remediation in the area.
This site should be maintained for at least 10 years after the last dwelling in the development is sold.
Recommendation 20 78
That the Waterways Authority link this Standing Committee on State Development report to the Rhodes remediation website.
It should also be linked to all government plans and policies affecting the development or taken into account in its planning and to the website established by the Rhodes Peninsula Group to provide alternate views on issues.
Recommendation 21 91
That Planning NSW implement the recommendations of the NSW Audit Office report entitled Performance Audit Report: Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment of Major Projects in NSW with a view to:
· comprehensively informing communities affected by a development to maintain
public confidence in government processes and
· including community participation in shaping draft planning documents.
Recommendation 22 95
That the Waterways Authority and Environment Protection Authority coordinate and effectively resource the establishment of a reference group based on the Homebush Bay Environment Reference Group which includes membership drawn from developers, the community, environmental organisations, government agencies, academics and other specialists.
Recommendation 23 96
That the Waterways Authority significantly increase the content of the website
www.rhodesremediation.nsw.gov.au to at least include the following information:
· the Environmental Impact Statements for the remediation of Precinct B, (including
the adjacent area of Homebush Bay) and Precinct C when publicly available
· the Environmental Impact Statements for the development of Precincts A,B and C
when publicly available
· functions and meetings of the Rhodes Peninsula Reference Group
· meetings of Community Liaison Groups and
· updates on remediation and redevelopment matters affecting the Rhodes peninsula.
plus other information as mentioned elsewhere in these comments.
Recommendation 24 105
That Transport NSW urgently review the assumptions made in the Transport Management Plan, to clarify whether or not estimated rail passenger loads can be adequately accommodated.
This review should specifically take a regional approach including forecast developments and other matters likely to significantly impact on flows on concord Road, Homebush Bay Drive, Church Street, Devlin Street, Blaxland Road and Ryde Bridge. 5km East and West and 10 km North and South from Ryde bridge would be a minimum radius to consider.
Recommendation 25 105
That the Transport Management Plan encompassing all forms of transport for the Rhodes peninsula be reviewed now and within 5 years time.
It is highly unlikely the development will be fully occupied within 5 years. This review should be done each 5 years until 5 years after the last dwelling in the development and the developments at the Meadowbank Employment area are sold and it should include public consulation in the suburbs closes to Ryde Bridge. 
Recommendation 26 105
That Planning NSW, when considering large development projects, carefully consider transport planning in cooperation with Transport NSW, to ensure that:
· realistic assumptions are proposed in the Transport Management Plan and
· where public transport related infrastructure is required, that this can be provided
before completion of the project.
A modal choice study should be done in the nearby Australand and Compaq offices and a high weighting should be given to established data such as census district reports, particularly for the Liberty Grove areas which is a newish development in the same area.
Recommendation 27 106
That the Department of Education and Training conduct an independent review of future public education demand from Rhodes, Liberty Grove and Concord areas.
This needs to cover the expected demand from all new and proposed developments within the catchment of those schools attended by students from Rhodes, not just schools in the old concord Municipality. The impact of the developments in the Newington and Sydney Olympic Park areas and the Meadowbank Employment Area will also have some effect.
Recommendation 28 107
That the Waterways Authority ensures that community liaison groups formed during the remediation and redevelopment of the Rhodes peninsula include at least one representative from the Liberty Grove community.
Recommendation 29 109
That the Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River Catchment Management Board broadly publicise its objectives and plans for the river system and provide a period of at least 8 weeks for public consultation and participation.
Before the plans are finalised the work of Dr Gavin Birch and the stormwater audit done by the EPA of Council performance should be published on the SHCMB website,  a Healthy Rivers Commission investigation should be done and a draft published for community consulation. The Catchment Management Plan should be based on sound information, including the above and the information on sewage overflows and algal blooms available from Sydney Water and on tidal flows from the Manly marine hydraulics laboratory. 
Recommendation 30 110
That the committee:
· monitor the remediation and redevelopment activities at the Rhodes peninsula for a
four year period (until 30 June 2006)
· consider issues arising from remediation and redevelopment
· table any additional report in the Legislative Council from time to time, and
· consider feedback from residents, local community groups, industry, unions, agencies
and local government bodies.
This process should be annual until 5 years after the last dwellings are sold.
Recommendation 31 110
That the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads, as the Minister responsible for public transport planning, reports annually (up to and including 30 June 2006) to the committee to identify transport planning initiatives that will facilitate patronage of public transport to and from the Rhodes peninsula.
This process should consider until 5 years after the last dwelling is sold and the offices and commercial and retail spaces  achieve 95% occupancy.
Recommendation 32 110
That the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads, as the Minister responsible for the Waterways Authority, reports annually (up to and including 30 June 2006) to the committee on the progress of remediation of the bay area adjacent to the Rhodes peninsula.
This process should continue until 5 years after the remediation in the bay is complete.
Recommendation 33 110
That the Minister for the Environment provides to the committee, reviews annually documenting variations from environmental guidelines by remediation activities. The first review should commence from the year ended 30 June 2003. Reviews thereafter should be conducted annually up to and including 30 June 2006.
This process should continue until 5 years after the remediation is apparently complete to ensure later anomalies are reported upon.