STORY by KATIE BASTIANS
THE DEC has confirmed the toxic plume in the Dianella area is spreading after half of bore water samples tested were found to be contaminated.
Environment Minister Donna Faragher urged residents to have their bores screened for free following the discovery of arsenic, cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in Dianella resident Jack Barnett’s bore water.
Ammonia was found in five bore water samples, includes Mr Barnett’s, which confirms the contamination stems from the Atlas Group landfill site in Mirrabooka.
The Department of Environment Monday announced a time extension till the end of May will be given to residents in the affected area to bring in water for screening to the City of Stirling after only nine residents took them up on the offer.
A Dianella resident who doesn’t want to be named is not surprised, saying she is not keen to voluntarily bring her water in for testing in case it results in her property being devalued and a caveat been placed on it.
The DEC says its because residents had only been given two weeks which was not seen as enough time.
DEC deputy director general environment Robert Atkins says there is no basis for concerns that people risked having their properties classified under the Contaminated Sites Act if they had their bores tested.
“Atlas has commenced a staged site investigation under the Contaminated Sites Act and we will only know the extent of the groundwater plume once the full investigation has been completed, and this will take more than 12 months.
Following Atlas’s investigation which will take more than a year, properties may be classified under the Act to restrict access to groundwater by bores, Mr Atkins says.
“Residents need not be concerned that they will not be able to sub-divide their property should their site be classified as under the Act and a memorial is placed on the land title.
“They can still get approval to sub-divide, amalgamate or develop their site provided the approving authority gets, and takes into account, DEC’s advice on the suitability of the land for the proposed use. In these types of situations the restriction is on access to and use of ground water by bore users.”
Toxicologist Peter Dingle last week slammed the DEC for not carrying out its own tests of the area, telling the Voice they shouldn’t be relying on residents to voluntarily bring in samples when it is likely to devalue their property whether a caveat is placed on their property or not.
The DEC says under the contaminated sites act, it is Atlas’s responsibility.
“Mapping of the plume will include the installation of additional monitoring bores at locations away from the Atlas site, to determine the extent of the plume,” a DEC spokesperson said.
“Delineation of plumes is usually done in phases, stepping out from the suspected source.
Most monitoring bores are located in road reserves and other public land, rather than on private property. Residential bores are generally built in such a way that they are unsuitable for mapping a plume.”
Dr Dingle says more comprehensive testing is needed and it is negligent of the environment minister to say the water is not of a public health concern.
The Dianella resident the Voice spoke to has not been contacted by the DEC warning her to be careful how she uses the water.
Residents in the potentially affected area – bordered by the Reid Highway, Boddington Circuit, Meadowbrook Boulevard, Brewer Place, Farrier Road, Chesterfield Road and the boundary of the Herb Graham Regional Recreation Centre – can take their bore water samples to the City of Stirling’s administration office at 25 Cedric Street, Stirling
