30 years to clean-up Barangaroo: report

It will take at least 30 years to get rid of toxic chemicals at Barangaroo, a recent report reveals.

The report, written by consulting chemical engineer Wayne Davies, states “groundwater seepage will occur wherever holes are dug and will continue indefinitely thereafter i.e. effectively forever”.

The report estimates it will take 30 years to eliminate a combination of dangerous byproducts, including cancer- causing chemicals at the former AGL gasworks site at East Darling Harbour.

The NSW Environmental Defender’s Office commissioned Dr Davies to review remediation plans on behalf of Australians for Sustainable Development (AfSD).

The alliance is currently launching court action in the Land and Environment Court against Lend Lease and the Minister for Planning.

An executive summary, obtained by City News and written by an advisor based on Dr Davies’s report, concludes contamination at Barangaroo is worse than anticipated.

“The variety of contaminants found on the Barangaroo site makes the chemicals much more dangerous than they would be each individually,” it states.

“Disturbance of the soil, such as the proposed excavation for the car park risks mobilising the toxic contaminants into Darling Harbour, which could continue almost indefinitely.”

The summary further concludes levels of toxic chemicals overwhelmingly exceed their level of concerns for parks or playgrounds.

It found the maximum level of Benzoapyrene was 326 times higher than the level of concern.

“This chemical is considered highly carcinogenic, it is thought to be responsible for cancers… [it] is classed as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer,” the assessment states.

AfSD argue that inadequate plans to deal with contamination were submitted before the project applications were approved last year and subsequently supported by the Planning Minister.

As yet, no decision has been handed down in court but Deputy Lord Mayor and Vice-President of AsFD, Marcelle Hoff, said questions needed to be answered.

“Questions need to be asked of Lend Lease, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, [and] the state government,” she said.

“Have they been part of an attempt to cover up the shocking truth about this contamination?”

But Lend Lease maintains they are experienced in remediation and regeneration.

David Hutton, Group Head of Development at Lend Lease said the transformation of Barangaroo from a disused port into a viable and sustainable extension to Sydney’s CBD provides the opportunity to clean up an historic contamination at the site.

“The reinvigoration of Barangaroo South is intended to be amongst the most sustainable urban renewals anywhere in the world,” he said recently.

The first Barangaroo building is due to be completed in 2014.