70,000 litres of water contaminated with heavy metals was released by Southern
Waste Solutions (SWS) directly into the Carlton River tributary, after rainfall caused
their stormwater ponds to overflow.
SWS have told us this discharge from the Copping Tip during April did not cause any
environmental damage, however it is too early to know; long term environmental impacts
require detailed study over a lengthy time frame.
Independent consultancy Ecosure, hired by SWS, tested the Carlton River water 10
metres downstream from the overflow. The results are alarming, with above recommended
levels of;
Nitrogen, Ammonia, Nitrate as N, Cadmium, Copper, Nickel, Lead, Zinc.
SWS also told us the rainfall that caused this overflow was a 1 in 2000 year event. But a
quick search on the Bureau of Meteorology website reveals records have only been kept
for 47 years and this type of rainfall event has happened 6 times since then.
Tasmanians were assured by SWS and the Environmental Protection Agency that
contingency plans are in place to deal with unexpected events. However, this debacle
proves otherwise.
SWS is owned by Sorell, Clarence, Kingborough & Tasman Councils to manage all
existing waste streams and potentially hazardous waste if the C cell is built. If as this
pollution event demonstrates, they cannot do this in a safe manner, government
intervention is required before a major environmental disaster occurs.
This contaminated water overflow into the Carlton River brings us back to the simple fact
that the Copping landfill site is poorly located. Adding a hazardous waste C cell will forever
place the river and Frederick Henry Bay at unnecessary risk.
Southern Beaches Conservation Society Dump the Toxic Dump
