Rhodes Homebush Bay Redevelopment

In late 2006 Thiess made a section 96 application to vary the remediation consents for the former Union Carbide site and nearby Homebush Bay to:
1. Use the direct thermal desorber and incinerator from the Meriton site
2. Use a bucket excavator on a barge surrounded by silt curtains, rather build large coffer dams
3. Move the location of the desorber to reduce impact on the Statewide site
4. Tent the bulk untrested soil storage area
5. Increase the scope of works in the Bay to reduce the post remediation bay wide average of dioxin to about 1.2 ppb mainly by remediating most of the major hotspot near the central park.
As at 15 Feb 2007, this had not been approved, although EPA advises that final negotiations of conditions of approval are underway.

On Wednesday 2 March 2005 Thiess confirmed to a meeting of the former Meriton CLG that EarthTech have been terminated by Meriton, ERM are no longer involved and the Cedarrapids incinerator will not be used. Thiess have taken over the Allied Feeds /Meriton remediation and will use a mahcine which, while still direct thermal desorption and incineration, is a machine whcih is suitable for the remediation of chlorinated compounds, has a cyclone to remove fine dust before it cools and has contaminants re-bind to it, a rapid quench to prevent re-formation of dioxins in the atmosphere,and a wet scrubber to remove hydrogen chloride. For full details see: Big Win For Community & Greenpeace

Now what we need are testing of the Point Park sediments and a Bay remediation which meets WHO standards.

Truck movements during removal of 100,000 tonnes of dirt from the Meriton site will be an issue, although it would have been faced after remediation under the EarthTech proposal.

NSW Health has completed the first stage of a blood sampling program for Rhodes residents. It involved collection of blood in age/gender cohorts matching the National Dioxin Survey of the Federal Government. Control samples have been collected through the assistance of the NSW Blood Bank. Further sampling will be done when the total exposure to increased dioxin through the remediation is about half way. Both initial control and Rhodes samples and the new samples and controls will then be tested to ensure that there has not been a significant increase in dioxin levels in Rhodes residents. Assuming there has not, further sampling will be done on completion of the remediation and testing will then be completed. All testing results (which are based on pooled, not individual samples) will be released to the community shortly after becoming available to NSW Health.

Rhodes residents demand better cleanup of sediments and Meriton site, better protection for residents and no incineration of toxic waste

On Sunday 27 June, 2004 Rhodes residents attended an anti-incineration meeting. They passed the following resolutions:
1. The NSW Government should not allow incineration of toxic waste at Rhodes or anywhere else.
2. The NSW Government should require closed loop systems like Indirect Thermal Desorption and BCD on the Meriton site, the same as for the Olympics and approved for the Union Carbide site.
3. The NSW Government should require the top metre of soil (ignoring landscaping) on the Meriton site to contain no more than 85 parts per trillion as now required on the Waterways UCAL site.
4. The NSW Government should clean up the bay properly so the fishing ban isn't needed for health protection. They should require the remediation to meet the WHO sediment standard of 1 ppb.
5. The NSW Government should protect our homes from toxic dust, noise and odour during remediation
6. The NSW Government should implement the off site soil testing recommendation of the two Commissions of Inquiry annually. This should be on a pooled sample basis from soils in Blaxland Road.
7. The NSW Government should test the Point Park sediments and make sure they comply with WHO sediment standard of 1 ppb.
8. The NSW Government should perform blood sampling as already requested by the residents' group's meeting with NSW Health at Concord West Public School. This should be done 3 monthly then annually until the remediation is complete.
9. The NSW Government should address our continuing concerns about traffic, transport, schools, hospitals and other community facilities including for organised active recreation for the 7,300 people who will live in Rhodes.
10. The NSW Government should ensure the medical waste incinerator at Silverwater has rapid quench and constant dioxin sampling (like AMESA) or close it and use other technologies like autoclaving.

On Sunday 27 June, 2004 Greenpeace moved 58 barrels of dioxin contaminated material from the Meriton site where it would be incinerated to the Government's former Union Carbide where it should be treated by a closed loop process. Greenpeace are totally opposed to the incineration of toxic wastes and garbage even when marketed as waste to energy plants or alternative fuels for cement kilns. for more information see our Incineration page or Greenpeace's Toxics pages

Stockholm Convention against POP's should prevent incineration of toxics at Rhodes and Botany.

The Stockholm Convention is an international Convention that bans or seeks to eliminate 12 persistent organic pollutants. This includes the elimination of dioxins, furans, HCB and PCBs as by-products. [For more information on POPs visit: http://www.greenpeace.org.au/toxics/pops/index.html ]

The Stockholm convention should, on its terms, prevent the incineration of toxic wastes at Rhodes and Botany (Orica HCB stockpile of 60,000 barrels).

Read Greenpeace's analysis of why the Stockholm convention prevents incineration at Rhodes on our Incineration page.

The Olympic suburb of Newington is threatened by emissions from incineration from the Medical waste incinerator and the incineration of toxic waste at Rhodes. The medical waste incinerator is reputedly one of the larger individual emitters of dioxins in NSW, if not Australia. Where exactly does it rank? Does it have constant sampling to monitor dioxin emissions? Does it utilise proven technology to virtually eliminate dioxin emissions? Why isn't it required under the Stockholm convention to act to reduce dioxin emissions?

Orica has lodged a DA to "remediate the worst lead contaminated sediments off the former Berger Paints plant at the Southern end of the Rhodes Waterside development. Effectively the plan is to dig up and remove the lead contaminated sediments to a landfill south of Wollongong and to fill the excavated area with "clean" fill, capping any lead contaminated sediments below the excavated area. There are lead sediments North and South of the area to be remediated which are not being touched. The EPA considers that the remaining lead will not be serious risk of harm even to young children with frequent exposure. The phthalate contaminated sediments off the former CSR/Orica chemicals are NOT being remediated, even though phthalates are a likely endocrine disruptor. These sediments run along the foreshore on the Northern half of the Rhodes Waterside developement. For further information on the harmful effects of lead see the Lead Group: http://www.lead.org.au

EPA to announce Lead sediments off Rhodes Waterside (former Berger Paints) to be declared a remediation area

Watch the Sydney Morning Herald for the advertisement; expected 24 Dec 2003 (EPA rang to ensure we didn't miss it - Thanks EPA)

The report of the Commission of Inquiry into the proposed remediation of the dioxin contaminated NSW Government Waterways owned former Union Carbide Lednez site and a strip of sediments in Homebush Bay is available from the COI website: See here! To view all available downloads including the Letter to the Minister, the Recommendations, list of background documents and list of submissions.
For the full report in pdf format (3.2 MB) Download Here!

A review of the document should be available within a week, but a preliminary view is that there are some recommendations which will assist in communication, understanding, coordination and enforcement of conditions of approval, the Commissioner has made no recommendations for increased scope of works in the Bay or for testing of the sediments off Point Park. It is also clear that there is likely to be some impact of dust and noise in excess of normal allowances on residents of Blaxland Road and that people living in apartments on the Statewide (former Glad factory on corner of Marquet and Osgathorpe Streets or Meriton (former Allied Feeds) sites before the completion of the Union Carbide site/Homebush Bay works may be severely effected particularly during daylight work hours..

NSW Health Newsletter cancer study result eases residents' concerns. Serum study proposed. At the public meeting on Thursday 27 November residents said they want serum study baseline samples analysed and released immediately and they confirm the need for post remediation soil testing
(Newsletter is 343 kb pdf)

Meriton site submissions:
2 Submissions to Planning NSW (These and 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)

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

Thiess / Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB)(formerly known as PPK) EIS for the Waterways owned former Union Carbide site will shortly be available from Planning NSW in both printed and CD formats. The two major issues appear to be:
1. the amount of dioxin left in soil away from the seawall and below 1.0 metres. While it may be be desirable to destroy the dioxin, Thiess seem to argue that there is no pathway to human or ecological exposure, so what is largely a "cap and contain" solution should be acceptable (my summary - not theirs). The Meriton site will probably have less average dioxin concentration, while the Trafalgar Multiplex site will have more dioxin concentration, but less pathways to exposure.

2. The reduced scope of works in the bay compared to what could be undertaken to achieve a significantly greater reduction in dioxin exposure through the food chain. "If the EU (ed: European Union) fish dioxin standards were to be applied in NSW, then it is likely that commercial and possibly recreational fishing would need to be banned for much of Sydney Harbour as well as other NSW waterways, such as the Shoalhaven River (downstream of the paper mill) and in inland waterways in cotton growing areas." (p10 Detailed Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment of Homebush Bay Sediments Supplementary Final Report December 2002)

Letter announcing Commission of Enquiry into EIS for Meriton's dioxin contaminated former Allied Feeds site at Rhodes.

Meriton EIS issues has been substantially updated, including regarding assumed background body burdens and intakes and issues regarding dioxin formation above the stack and dioxin emission standards

Possible Commission of Enquiry. See http://www.coi.nsw.gov.au for information on Commisions of Enquiry. You can also download the Report of the Orica Botany HCB Destruction Enquiry from this site.

Planning NSW website says exhibition period for Meriton EIS has been extended to 20 December. 10/12/2002

Trafalgar/Multiplex have issued their first Community Newsletter (November 2002). They will be holding a community information morning on Saturday 7th December at the Rhodes Community Centre, 63 Blaxland Road Rhodes (the Old School) from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. 4/12/2002

Orica sediments declared an "investigation area" under the contaminated Land Management Act. Orica propose a further investigation. Orica still won't release the URS Report into the sediments of their former sites - now McRoss' Rhodes Waterside Development. These sediments were identified in the1997 State of the Environment Report as heavily contaminated with lead. They are also contaminated with phthalates. 4/12/2002

Presentation by Trafalgar and others about the development of the former Union Carbide site. 23/11/2002

Open Day to present Meriton EIS
ERM will be hosting an open day on Saturday 23rd November 2002.
The aim of the open day is to provide an opportunity for the
community to talk to members of the EIS and remediation team. The
details of the open day are:
Saturday, 23rd November 2002
10:00am to 5:00pm
Rhodes Community Centre
Blaxland Road
Rhodes

Coming Meetings:
NSW Health meeting: Thursday 21st November, 5.30 pm
Union Carbide Remediation meeting: Tuesday 19th November, 5.30 pm
Trafalgar / Multiplex Architecture meeting: Thursday 14th November, 5.30 pm
All at Rhodes Community Centre, Blaxland Road.

Meriton's contractor for the remediation of the former Allied Feed's site has lodged the EIS and it is on public exhibition. See the text of the advertisement about the exhibition and how you can comment. See the clean up standards for Meriton's site.

McRoss received approval for 2 DA's in September 2001, including in principle approval for the on and off ramps near oulton Avenue and the Liberty Grove Tower Blocks and Sandpiper. Details are to be approved by RTA within the principles already approved. Commercial, Retail and a Residential component were approved, plus all bulk earthworks. A lot of residential and the landscaping were not approved.

Approval granting consent to the subdivision, road layout, bulk earthworks, shops, bulky goods retailing, commercial offices and residential components of the application subject to the conditions of consent referred to in in Schedule (s) 2; and refusing consent for the "remainder of site" and landscaping components of the application.

Freedom of Information Requests lodged to obtain copy of URS Report into Orica sediments.

EIS for Meriton's former Allied Feeds site delayed. Amendments required by government before public exhibition.

EIS for Waterways' Union Carbide site and strip of sediments in Homebush Bay delayed.

EPA refuses to release URS health risk assessment on Orica sediments in spite of Enquiry recommendation. What have EPA, Orica and Waterways got to hide? Canada Bay council to lodge Freedom of Information request if Orica won't release report.

Canada Bay calls for NSW Health to survey fish contamination in Parramatta River.

Canada Bay calls for Sydney Harbour Catchment Management Blueprint to focus on western half of river, areas of algal bloom and eutrophication (dead river syndrome) and contaminated sediments near AGL site

Gavin Birch to present to Canada Bay Council about Contamnation sediments in Parramatta River at 6:30 pm Tuesday 10 September at Drummoyne Council Chambers, Marlborough Street.

Prof Paul Connett spoke against incineration at Rhodes on 17 July 2002, courtesy of Greenpeace.
Read a transcript of a speech he gave on incineration in Amsterdam.
Visit the Global Anti Incineration Alliance website www.no-burn.org
Visit the website of "Our Stolen Future" - a book referred to by Prof Connett

Clean up standards for sediments - here is the table from the May 199 Call For Proposals. The same document which said at 2.4.4 that :

What's changed that would allow direct thermal desorption? Where is the competitive tender?

22/5/2002 Health Risk Assessment presentation from May meeting of CLG added (Use your browser's "Back" button to return)

22/5/2002 Treatment of Dioxins presentation added. Shows proposed plant. (Use your browser's "Back" button to return)

13/5/02 NSW Health Information from 11 April 02 and 21 March 02 added. These have graphs of cancer and asthma comparative statistics

20/4/02 14-3-02 Minutes Union Carbide site, Meeting 7: Cumulative Impacts; Outcomes of studies

20/4/02 12-12-01 Minutes Union Carbide site, Meeting 6: Health - public and worker

20/4/02 29-11-01 Minutes Union Carbide site, Meeting 5: Remedial Action Plan - Thursday 29 November

18/4/02 15-11-01 Minutes Union Carbide site, Meeting 4: Health Risk Assessment - Thursday 15 November

18/4/02 15-11-01 Agenda Union Carbide site, Meeting 4: Health Risk Assessment - Thursday 15 November

18/4/02 29-11-01 Agenda Union Carbide site, Meeting 5: Remedial Action Plan - Thursday 29 November

1/4/02 Added pdf file of transcript of First days hearings at Parliamentary enquiry

1/2/02 See the lack of dust and run-off control at Mortlake. The EPA standards clearly didn't prevent significant dust and water pollution problems.
Click on the small photos to see larger clearer, but slower loading versions.


Dust problems		Water problems

The Community Liaison Group wants both sites to use negative pressure sheds to contain dust.

The Parliamentary Enquiry by the Standing Committee on State Development has finished hearings. Transcripts are available in .pdf format.
7 February 8 February

Next meeting of the Rhodes/Homebush Bay Community Liaison Group is Thursday 29 November 5:30 pm. Contact rlennings@bigpond.com or ring Sara Phillips at PPK
tel: +61(0)2 9743 0333
direct: +61(0)2 9736 9771
if you would like to come as an observer to the meeting.
Meetings held at the Rhodes Community Centre, Blaxland Rd, Rhodes (the old Rhodes Public School).

Extracts from State of the Environment 2000, Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils State of the Environment 2000, Sydney Water's Towards Sustainability 2000 relating to Parramatta River added to Parramatta River and State of the Environment pages

Notes of meetings of 1 November and 15 November added. Minutes are not available until confirmed.

Lots of information about the EIS for the Government's former Union Carbide site and the heavily dioxin contaminated strip of sediments in Homebush Bay.

Australian Investigation Levels for Soil and Groundwater in the Assessment of site contamination. Part of the National Environment Protection (Assessement of Site Contamination) Measure 1999
http://www.nepc.gov.au/pdf/cs_01_inv_levels.pdf
17 Oct 2001

EIS consultation starts at Rhodes Community Centre 22 September. 10 am to 1 pm, presentation at 11 am followed by sausage sizzle. Kids catered for. 13/9/01

NSW Labor won't stop a 13 minute delay for 2000 cars a day on Concord Road at 1 set of lights. The EIS for the dross city tunnel shows that 8 Eastern Suburbs can do whole journeys to the CBD in morning peak in less time. Where is the equity for our Labor held seat?
13/9/01

AGL funded a health study for their remediation at Mortlake. Where is the health study for Rhodes?
13/9/01

No Transport Management Plan for major redevelopment of Meadowbank. -Both communities need an independent integrated Transport Management Plan exhibited.
13/9/01

When will house roof dust and soil be tested - 60 houses remediated at Dulux. Why no testing of houses at Rhodes near Orica's Berger Paints & Waterways' Union Carbide sites. State Government, Council need to act.
13/9/01

Thiess propose 2nd stage of remediation still be done in Qld contrary to Greenpeace submission. Transport risk management and contingency plans needed, facility must be appropriately licenced and that local community informed.
13/9/01

Gov't still refuse to coordinate and provide holistic reference group - but Thiess agree in principle to fund site specific group with independent experts and chair for EIS and Thiess remediation of sediment strip and Union Carbide.
13/9/01

Waterways / Thiess say sediments around Blaxland Road boat ramp now tested - results to be made available.
13/9/01

Orica now testing sediments near their site. EPA advises that if Orica are shown to have significantly contaminated the sediments nearby Orica will be obliged to remediate them.
13/9/01

Thiess acknowledge dust problems at AGL Mortlake, but say monitoring showed very few exceedences during remediation, all problems now are with clean dust - small consolation if you have to live with it.
13/9/01

NSW Health have a provisional TDI for dioxin. Numbers seem to accord with WHO - but further details awaited.
13/9/01

Organisations interested in submitting their web site addresses to be linked from this site, can forward details to publicaffairs@waterways.nsw.gov.au

Waterways say their risk assessment for soil remediation used US EPA generally used limit of 1 part per billion - further details awaited.
13/9/01

Waterways say Orica breaches of Rivers and Foreshore Improvement Act were inadvertent due to changing roles of departments, no material over high tide mark, permits for work done without permit would have been forthcoming therefore no penalties applied. This impplies that Waterways feel that dumping soil over the breathing tubes of mangroves is ok provided they are above the mean high water mark. There is potential for coverage of the tubes to kill the mangroves. There is a conflict here between the private property rights above the mean high water mark and the need to protect the mangroves.
13/9/01

Orica Destruction Photo
Shows earthworks in breach of Rivers and Foreshore Improvement Act and possibly environmental legislation and licence.

City of Canada Bay has approved a master plan for a 90,000 sm development of the Alfred Street and former Digital site. The local community groups were not informed of the application to council in breach of Concord Council's policy to do so. This plan provides for up to 1825 car parking spaces, and additional traffic lights on Homebush Bay Drive, and a continuation of Concord Road across Homebush Bay Drive into the site. A page on this development will be published when time permits.