About the Project
Last updated 9 August 2024
Why is the project required in Port Kembla?
In 2020, Port Kembla Copper (PKC) started investigating whether historical smelter-related operations could have contaminated areas near the former smelter in Port Kembla. A specialist environmental company called Senversa was engaged by PKC to complete these investigations. More than 1,100 soil and dust samples were collected from public open space areas and 32 select private properties. These samples were then analysed as part of the investigation. The approximate area investigated is shown on this map:
The investigation found that public open space areas such as public parks, playgrounds and footpaths do not need to be cleaned up, managed or treated for contamination (otherwise known as remediation).
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However, it did find that residential and pre/primary school properties in some areas of Port Kembla may have soil and/or indoor dust contamination from smelter-related operations which occurred prior to PKC buying and operating the site. The main chemical contaminant is lead and the potentially affected residential and school properties are located to the south and west of the former smelter site.
What’s next?
PKC has prepared a testing plan to determine whether smelter-related contamination is present at each of the residential and school properties within the potentially affected areas of Port Kembla. This plan has been reviewed and approved by an independent expert NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA)-accredited Site Auditor and also provided to NSW EPA, NSW Health and Wollongong City Council (WCC) for review and comment.
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PKC is now in the process of contacting owners and/or occupiers who live or attend a property that may be contaminated by historic smelter-related operations with an offer to investigate it free of charge. If a property is found to be contaminated through the further investigations, PKC will also offer to remediate it (clean up the contamination) free of charge.
How long will the investigation and remediation take?
This next part of the investigation program will take approximately one year,and should be completed near the end of 2025. The time frame for remediating local properties will depend on the number found to have been contaminated by historical smelter-related contamination, but is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
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Investigation and remediation works will be approved and reviewed by the independent expert EPA-accredited Site Auditor. PKC will continue to keep the community, NSW EPA, NSW Health and WCC updated during the investigation and remediation program.