IAN HOY, Mission Australia’s Out of School Hours Care (OOSHC) Co-ordinator (pictured) has moved quickly to allay the fears of parents, saying the OOSHC facility will not be closing and assuring parents that contaminants found on the centre site were not believed to pose a health risk to children.
The move has been prompted by the findings of a report commissioned by Cootamundra Shire Council which confirms the presence of contaminants on the old Gas Works site.
Mission Australia staff will work over the weekend to relocate the centre to a building at the Cootamundra aerodrome.
“We are doing our best to inform all parents of what is happening.
“The relocation of the centre will be completed and up and running on Monday,” Mr Hoy said.
Cootamundra Mayor Paul Braybrooks has assured Mission Australia that the relocation of the OOSHC is a precautionary move and that remediation of the site will then begin.
According to the report received by Council, sampling results from the site have indicated no health risk and are in line with what could be expected from a site of this type.
THE old Cootamundra gas works site has been found to be contaminated and the after school childcare centre currently operating on site has been relocated.
The Hovell Street site operated as a gas works between 1944 and 1969, with the contamination found consisting of substances typically found in gasworks waste such as tar, ammoniacal liquor, ash and spent oxides.
Cootamundra Shire Council first became aware of the contamination in 1995 when Australian Gas Light Company assessed the site, however as the site was capped with asphalt, Council said there was no immediate concern to human health or the environment.
Council is warning against panic by parents of children who have frequented the child care centre which has occupied the site, saying harmful health effects are extremely unlikely and no health screening is recommended at this stage.
According to Council, given the air quality and restricted access to unpaved areas children and staff have had very limited exposure to contaminants.
Cootamundra Mayor Paul Braybrooks said as a precaution Council has arranged for the centre to be relocated to a new site from next week.
“In May this year, Council received NSW Environmental Trust funding to undertake extensive investigations to determine the level and exact location of contamination on the site,” Mr Braybrooks said.
“Air and soil samples were taken from the Centre and tested. Air sample results were within recommended guidelines however some soil tests taken in unpaved areas are above guideline levels.”
“Council has consulted with Department of Health and Department of Environment and Climate Change and identified health risks at these levels are extremely unlikely.”
Now that the initial site investigations are completed, a remediation action plan will be developed to address the contamination.
After a remediation action plan is prepared, remedial works will commence on the site to contain and remove the contamination.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change requires that any contaminated soil excavated during remediation and/or development, is properly managed and disposed of safely.
According to Council, the whole process may take up to three years.
An information sheet has been provided to Mission Australia to be given to parents of children attending the Centre.
Mr Braybrooks said any parent whose child no longer attends the child care centre can also obtain a copy of the information sheet from Council.
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