Elevated Mercury Levels at Orica

Members of the Orica Community Participation and Review Committee recently were given an update on both reported elevated mercury levels at the Orica plant and proposed future steps.

I thought it would be of interest to Councillors and our residents for this material to be given wider circulation.

The material given to the Community Participation and Review Committee provides information on the next steps in recommencing operation of the Direct Thermal Desorption (DTD) plant at the Orica Car Park Waste Remediation Project. The elevated mercury levels were detected in from stack samples taken on 14 to 16 December 2011 and reported to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on 17 January 2011.

The elevated mercury levels detected were just another in a series of adverse events at Orica plants in New South Wales. None of the adverse events in any way detracts from concerns I have  many times expressed about Orica’s operations.

Following the elevated mercury level readings, Orica was required to undertake an extensive review of its Direct Thermal Desorption plant operating procedures.

This review, we were advised, concluded that the cause was a higher contaminant loading during the Supplementary Proof of Performance Test, resulting in instability during the DTD process.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has now met with Orica a number of times to review the information from its investigation and the CPRC’s Independent Expert Panel has been provided with relevant reports and test data.

This information will help the EPA to decide when and how the plant can re-start. The CPRC was advised of the next steps at a plant which has what I might describe as a chequered past.

The first step in the process of re-starting the Direct Thermal Desorption plant is to conduct a “hot blow through”. This is a short test in which the plant is operated without treating any contaminated soil.

The test results from the hot blow through will be used to determine whether the maintenance activities conducted in response to the incident were successful in treating any remaining mercury accumulation in the plant.

The Direct Thermal Desorption plant will be shut down following the hot blow through until the test results are received by the EPA. The EPA will then determine the best approach for resuming the safe treatment of contaminated soils in the plant. The EPA is continuing its investigation into the compliance issues associated with the elevated mercury levels.

Perhaps the only bit of positive news from this incident was that supplied by Professor Brian Priestly from Monash University who is part of their independent expert panel for this project.

Professor Priestly advised that he concurred with a statement from the EPA which said that none of the emissions in December represented no likely impact on the health of the nearby community,

This is at least something.

But it does not detract from the long standing and systemic distrust this Council has of Orica operations.

Vale Vilma Wiggins

Some time ago we dedicated a park to commemorate the work in the Council administration by Jos Wiggins, the Council Engineer for a long time. At the dedication, the guest of honour was Vilma Wiggins, the woman who stood beside Jos for many, many years.

Now, regretfully, we mourn the passing of Vilma. Vilma Dawn Groves was born in Masot but lived in many places before Jos Wiggins wooed her and they settled in Mascot. Theirs was a love and a marriage that grew and grew in our City and togther they achieved much for their family - and our City.

As her granddaughter Skye Rahmat said at the funeral service: "The rock who supported us through all the losses in our lives has gone. We remember, and find joy in the memories and influences of someone who we loved greatly, of someone who lived greatly." I too will miss Vilma. May she rest in peace.

Important Notice about Garbage

I have an important reminder for residents about what NOT to put in your domestic waste bin - that is your green wheelie bin.  The list is really common sense and includes:  Asbestos and fibro sheeting, paint and paint related products, empty paint tins, floor sanding saw dust (a common one), pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, solvents and household cleaners, motor oils, car batteries, acids and alkalis, gas bottles, fire extinguishes and hazardous waste chemicals.

There have been a few incidents recently where some of these items have found their way into our garbage trucks.  When this occurs it becomes extremely dangerous for our workers.  When crushed these items can explode or spray hazardous fluids.  So please for the safety of all be careful of what you put in your bin.  There are a number of safe ways to dispose of these items and Council is currently preparing a leaflet which will be letterboxed to all residents providing these details.  In the meantime if you have any such items that you wish to get rid of please ring Council on 93663666 for advice on where you can take these items to be disposed of safely. Random checks do occur, and if these items are found in a bin that bin will not be collected and a sticker will be placed on the lid asking the owner to contact council.

Work begins on L’Estrange Park playground

The beginning of the school year also marked the commencement of work on the City’s fourth district playground at L’Estrange Park.  As the park was popular during the school holidays, we held off beginning the playground work until the schools were back.

The construction fence is now up and the first task will be to remove the old equipment and get ready for the first delivery of landscape soil. Like all major projects, earthmoving is always the first step and once that is done the rest will be underway.  We need a fair bit of fill to totally bury some tree roots and build the mound for the large slide that we’re putting in.

During this month, the pathways, the landscaping, the kids’ cycle track, seats and other furniture and, most importantly, the playground equipment will begin to be installed along with all the landscaping. Apart from the mound slide, there will be a large climbing dome, water-play features (popular in our other playgrounds), 3-D rubber animals and other equipment guaranteed to keep children occupied and happy.

55 Plus Events

Our local community group, 55 Plus (where the name tells the age group of members) organises a lot of events for members – and prospective members – from walks and tours to talks and get togethers – has an interesting event coming up next months that I thought might be of interest.  On Wednesday March 14 the group is off to the Henry Kendall Cottage in Gosford, which is not only the home of the renowned 19^th Century Australian poet but also a museum of his life and work. Pick-ups for the bus tour will be 8:15am at Eastgardens and 8:30am at Eastlakes.  There is a charge of $3 to entry to the cottage, which you’ll need to pay when you book.

An Evening @ the Museum

February 29 only comes around every four years but our Museum staff have organised a special event that is a one off event. “Made in Botany”, the current exhibition at the George Hanna Memorial Museum is coming to a close and council has organised a special one-off evening for February 29, beginning at 6:30.  From wool scourers and tanneries to Kellogg’s, the “Made in Botany” exhibition covers the history of manufacturing in our City.  While the exhibition runs through to March 2, the evening talk should not be missed.  You will need to book, which you can do by calling 9366 3888. If you can’t make the evening tour, the exhibition is open Monday and Friday between 12.00pm and 5.00pm, Wednesday 12.00pm to 8.00pm and on Tuesday and Thursday between 9.00am and 2.00pm at Mascot Library, 2 Hatfield Street, Mascot.

A Low Act

Council recently donated a substantial number of plants to St Michael’s Daceyville to help beautify the entrance way.  Father Jerzy and the St Michael’s congregation were very proud of the finished look, so you can imagine the distress when they came to church this week and found that someone had helped themselves to the lot!!  

I get frustrated when people do it to Council (as has happened on numerous occasions), but I get really angry when they do to it to a church.  It’s a low act.  Council will replace the plants but I am beginning to think that we need to take a tip from the retailers and put tracking devices on all our stock.  If anyone has any information on the missing plants please let me know, after all these people are not only stealing from a Church, they are stealing from our residents.