Final Report, Redevelopment and Remediation of the Rhodes Peninsula

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Report Date	Thursday 27 June 2002
Date Tabled	Thursday 27 June 2002
Ordered Printed	Thursday 27 June 2002
Government Response	Request made to Govt for a Response: Thursday 27 June 2002 (Mandatory) Government's Response Due: Friday 27 December 2002 Date of Government's Response: Tuesday 24 December 2002
Paper Number	135
Number of Pages	156
Context	Redevelopment and Remediation of the Rhodes Peninsula (inquiry), State Development Committee

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Recommendation 1
That the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) publish the rationale and justifications for remediation standards applied to Precincts B and C.

Recommendation 2
That the human health study conducted by URS Australia entitled, Human Health and Environmental Risk Assessment of Sediments in Southeast Homebush Bay,be made publicly available by the EPA and City of Canada Bay Council.

Recommendation 3
That the EPA should only approve a proposal for treatment using the direct thermal desorption (DTD) method if it is convinced that the treatment complies with all the relevant protocols regulating the treatment of dioxin and other organic chemicals.

Recommendation 4
That in the event of reports that emissions from treatment processes exceed established tolerance levels, the EPA develop an emergency communication plan to provide an effective and prompt response to meet safety concerns, including notification to all affected residents.

Recommendation 5
That if indirect thermal desorption (ITD) is identified by the EPA as the preferred treatment technology, the NSW Government should negotiate with Thiess Services to provide supplementary strategies over and above the $20 million originally committed to remediate the proposed areas of Homebush Bay.

Recommendation 6
That the EPA frequently monitor records of site activities and report to the community liaison groups in order to maintain community confidence in responsible remediation activities.

Recommendation 7
That the EPA provide a rapid investigation response to adverse reports by the public during remediation activities.

Recommendation 8
That WorkCover ensures that the occupational health and safety strategy in the Remedial Action Plans for Precincts B and C and Homebush Bay incorporate strict requirements modelled on the Homebush Bay Olympic site remediation project.

Recommendation 9
That WorkCover regularly audit remediation activities for adherence to occupational health and safety guidelines.

Recommendation 10
The committee recommends that the EPA ensure that air quality control measures implemented by site remediators include:
· limiting open excavation face to a minimum to reduce potential dust and odour emissions
· covering all stockpile areas
· operation of specific odour control measures and odour suppressants
· inclusion of truck wash down areas to minimise dust disturbance from truck wheels
· use of water sprinklers to suppress dust sources and
· monitoring regimes and emergency triggers to be included in the operation of the treatment equipment if fugitive stack emissions occur.

Recommendation 11
That the EPA ensure the remediation proponents implement air monitoring measures both adjacent to precincts B and C as well locations further from the peninsula during remediation of those sites.

Recommendation 12
That results of air monitoring be made publicly available (including the website www.rhodesremediation.nsw.gov.au) as part of ongoing community communication and consultation programs.

Recommendation 13
That in the interest of public awareness, NSW Health provide leadership to any community liaison group created to examine health issues of concern.

Recommendation 14
That the Waterways Authority, as the owner of the land under Homebush Bay, further investigate measures to remediate dioxin hotspots and other known contaminants.

Recommendation 15
That during remediation and for 12 months after completion of remediation of Homebush Bay:
· sampling of sediment and fish from remediated and non-remediated areas occurs on a quarterly basis and
· data collected from sampling be incorporated in a future human health and ecological risk assessment.

Recommendation 16
That upon completion of remediation of Precincts B and C:
· the total fishing ban remain for a period of at least 12 months
· after 12 months, an independent detailed human health and ecological risk assessment be conducted sampling sediment and fish from remediated and non-remediated areas of Homebush Bay, and
· the ban remain until it is demonstrated that contaminant levels in fish are reduced to acceptable levels.

Recommendation 17
The committee recommends that the EPA, in conjunction with the appropriate regulatory authorities, closely monitor environmental controls and on-site management of remediation works to ensure that the integrity of the environment and the health and safety of workers and the public is not compromised. Environmental controls that should be monitored include:
· surface water, leachate and groundwater management and treatment controls
· erosion and sediment controls
· odour and dust controls and
· noise and traffic measurement and safety measures.

Recommendation 18
That the EPA encourage, where possible, the parties remediating Precincts B and C to coordinate remediation activities so that disruption to the community is minimised.

Recommendation 19
That the Rhodes Remediation website www.rhodesremediation.nsw.gov.au be updated and dedicated as a repository for all information of community interest concerning remediation in the area.

Recommendation 20
That the Waterways Authority link this Standing Committee on State Development report to the Rhodes remediation website.

Recommendation 21
That Planning NSW implement the recommendations of the NSW Audit Office report entitled Performance Audit Report: Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment of Major Projects in NSW with a view to:
· comprehensively informing communities affected by a development to maintain public confidence in government processes and
· including community participation in shaping draft planning documents.

Recommendation 22
That the Waterways Authority and Environment Protection Authority coordinate and effectively resource the establishment of a reference group based on the Homebush Bay Environment Reference Group which includes membership drawn from developers, the community, environmental organisations, government agencies, academics and other specialists.

Recommendation 23
That the Waterways Authority significantly increase the content of the website www.rhodesremediation.nsw.gov.au to at least include the following information:
· the Environmental Impact Statements for the remediation of Precinct B, (including the adjacent area of Homebush Bay) and Precinct C when publicly available
· the Environmental Impact Statements for the development of Precincts A,B and C when publicly available
· functions and meetings of the Rhodes Peninsula Reference Group
· meetings of Community Liaison Groups and
· updates on remediation and redevelopment matters affecting the Rhodes peninsula.

Recommendation 24
That Transport NSW urgently review the assumptions made in the Transport Management Plan, to clarify whether or not estimated rail passenger loads can be adequately accommodated.

Recommendation 25
That the Transport Management Plan encompassing all forms of transport for the Rhodes peninsula be reviewed now and within 5 years time.

Recommendation 26
That Planning NSW, when considering large development projects, carefully consider transport planning in cooperation with Transport NSW, to ensure that:
· realistic assumptions are proposed in the Transport Management Plan and
· where public transport related infrastructure is required, that this can be provided before completion of the project.

Recommendation 27
That the Department of Education and Training conduct an independent review of future public education demand from Rhodes, Liberty Grove and Concord areas.

Recommendation 28
That the Waterways Authority ensures that community liaison groups formed during the remediation and redevelopment of the Rhodes peninsula include at least one representative from the Liberty Grove community.

Recommendation 29
That the Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River Catchment Management Board broadly publicise its objectives and plans for the river system and provide a period of at least 8 weeks for public consultation and participation.

Recommendation 30
That the committee:
· monitor the remediation and redevelopment activities at the Rhodes peninsula for a four year period (until 30 June 2006)
· consider issues arising from remediation and redevelopment
· table any additional report in the Legislative Council from time to time, and
· consider feedback from residents, local community groups, industry, unions, agencies and local government bodies.

Recommendation 31
That the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads, as the Minister responsible for public transport planning, reports annually (up to and including 30 June 2006) to the committee to identify transport planning initiatives that will facilitate patronage of public transport to and from the Rhodes peninsula.

Recommendation 32
That the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads, as the Minister responsible for the Waterways Authority, reports annually (up to and including 30 June 2006) to the committee on the progress of remediation of the bay area adjacent to the Rhodes peninsula.

Recommendation 33
That the Minister for the Environment provides to the committee, reviews annually documenting variations from environmental guidelines by remediation activities. The first review should commence from the year ended 30 June 2003. Reviews thereafter should be conducted annually up to and including 30 June 2006.

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Government Response

The government response was tabled with the Clerk of the Legislative Council on 24 December 2002 and tabled in Parliament on 29 April 2003.

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