SC Airport Contamination Watch RTI & FOI requests
Donation protected
What if I were to tell you the new runway is being built smack bang on the top of an old landfill/tip site?
And what if I told you that Council failed to include this in the Environmental Impact Statement back in 2014?
Yes. You heard me right. The excavated hole and surrounding area (see pic) was NOT RISK ASSESSED as a landfill site. In fact nowhere in the EIS does it even mention it used to be a historic landfill site!
It's well known that historic landfill sites often pose a medium to large contamination risk; the reason being that no one really knows what's been dumped in them over the years. To omit it from the EIS is therefore a balls up of epic proportions by Council.
In true form, Mayor Mark Jamieson, our Councillors and Ross Ullman have kept this in secrecy...and I don't know about you, but the only thing one could reasonably conclude from that, is that they simply don't want us to know about it...
However the community DOES have a right to know and this is why it is important to request ALL, not just some of the information, surrounding the contamination issues on site.
So here I am, at the worst time of year, having to ask for donations to fund the more comprehensive RTI which I can't afford to fund myself. This is far from ideal, sorry. However I can't think of any other options.
Proceeds of the funds will be used as follows:
1) A Contaminated Land Register search (DES) - $51.00
2) RTI request from SCC - $50.80 + $7.85 per 15 minutes (I have estimated that 2 hours of searching will be required = $62.80)
Total = $164.60
One positive is that if every follower was to donate, it will require only a 15c donation per person to reach the goal. I certainly would not expect any more than a $1 donation per person. This is a difficult time of year for many.
When the information is released, I will read and disseminate on our Facebook page to make sure the community is aware of all contamination issues at the airport. So yeah...basically I'll do the Council's job for them.
Being across this matter as individuals is important, so that we can all be aware of any potential impacts on our health, impacts on the environment plus how this poorly planned project will effect the ratepayer's hip pocket. And with the PFAS issue having blowing out to an astronomical $38 million already (!! let that sink in....), and with Council being so secretive, I think it's only prudent to keep an eye on what's going on.
Whatever contamination is on site, it has the potential to spread:
a) in the surface water, especially during flooding (which has already happened)
b) groundwater, especially when disturbed by earth moving equipment (which has already happened) or
c) when pumped out to sea via a pipeline (which is planned).
Council have made far too many errors with the airport leading up to this point, which have slipped under the radar until now. Moving forward, I'm really not keen on letting them get away with any more.
Please note - Unused funds: There is a chance the search done by the RTI officer will take less time than the two hours I have estimated. If so, any unused funds will be donated in full to the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland Inc. (ABN 37 417 474 709). I will provide receipts for both requests and the donation when they come to hand.
Thank you very much in advance for your support and shared concern.
And what if I told you that Council failed to include this in the Environmental Impact Statement back in 2014?
Yes. You heard me right. The excavated hole and surrounding area (see pic) was NOT RISK ASSESSED as a landfill site. In fact nowhere in the EIS does it even mention it used to be a historic landfill site!
It's well known that historic landfill sites often pose a medium to large contamination risk; the reason being that no one really knows what's been dumped in them over the years. To omit it from the EIS is therefore a balls up of epic proportions by Council.
In true form, Mayor Mark Jamieson, our Councillors and Ross Ullman have kept this in secrecy...and I don't know about you, but the only thing one could reasonably conclude from that, is that they simply don't want us to know about it...
However the community DOES have a right to know and this is why it is important to request ALL, not just some of the information, surrounding the contamination issues on site.
So here I am, at the worst time of year, having to ask for donations to fund the more comprehensive RTI which I can't afford to fund myself. This is far from ideal, sorry. However I can't think of any other options.
Proceeds of the funds will be used as follows:
1) A Contaminated Land Register search (DES) - $51.00
2) RTI request from SCC - $50.80 + $7.85 per 15 minutes (I have estimated that 2 hours of searching will be required = $62.80)
Total = $164.60
One positive is that if every follower was to donate, it will require only a 15c donation per person to reach the goal. I certainly would not expect any more than a $1 donation per person. This is a difficult time of year for many.
When the information is released, I will read and disseminate on our Facebook page to make sure the community is aware of all contamination issues at the airport. So yeah...basically I'll do the Council's job for them.
Being across this matter as individuals is important, so that we can all be aware of any potential impacts on our health, impacts on the environment plus how this poorly planned project will effect the ratepayer's hip pocket. And with the PFAS issue having blowing out to an astronomical $38 million already (!! let that sink in....), and with Council being so secretive, I think it's only prudent to keep an eye on what's going on.
Whatever contamination is on site, it has the potential to spread:
a) in the surface water, especially during flooding (which has already happened)
b) groundwater, especially when disturbed by earth moving equipment (which has already happened) or
c) when pumped out to sea via a pipeline (which is planned).
Council have made far too many errors with the airport leading up to this point, which have slipped under the radar until now. Moving forward, I'm really not keen on letting them get away with any more.
Please note - Unused funds: There is a chance the search done by the RTI officer will take less time than the two hours I have estimated. If so, any unused funds will be donated in full to the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland Inc. (ABN 37 417 474 709). I will provide receipts for both requests and the donation when they come to hand.
Thank you very much in advance for your support and shared concern.
Organizer
Sophie Kate
Organizer
Peregian Springs, QLD