THE Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was called to the controversial affordable housing construction site in Narooma last week after muddy waters gushed from the site into Wagonga Inlet.
Persistent rain, the bane of any construction worker’s existence, over a number of days caused a dam at the steep 192 Princes Highway site to overflow allowing sediment-laden water to make its way into Forsters Bay.
The dam, positioned at the bottom of the site, was one of the control measures the contractors had made for the purpose of erosion and sediment control. When it overflowed concerned residents contacted the EPA a division of the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water.
The EPA responded promptly and an operations officer arrived from Queanbeyan to assess the state of affairs.
To address the situation immediately and reduce the overflow the contractors were ordered on Thursday to pump the water out of the dam and cart it away.
The water was pumped through a series of hoses to a water truck parked just off Davidson Street.
The truck took 10,000 litres at a time to farmland which was deemed suitable to take the muddy water without it flowing back into the inlet.
Pumping continued on Friday and Saturday and EPA staff were there to monitor the situation.
EPA manager of the south east region Nigel Sargent said, “We are concerned about the polluted water leaving the site and entering the inlet that has a whole range of environmental values and that’s why the marine park is here”.
“We are also concerned that the sediment and erosion control measures on site have not been good enough to retain the water on site.
“We are requiring the NSW Department of Housing and contractors to put in place immediate works that will stop and control this discharge.”
Given that a wet summer has been predicted the EPA are also requiring that further permanent controls be implemented. Mr Sargent acknowledges it is a difficult site to manage and said, “Controls need to be tailor-made for the steepness of the site and the size of the construction site”.
Mr Sargent was expecting the directors of the construction company to arrive on site on Friday afternoon. “They will need to come up with a plan,” he said. EPA operations staff will remain on site as long as necessary.
Peter O’Kane, an independent water tester for the oyster farmers in Narooma, who lives below the construction site in Lakeview Drive was alarmed at the muddy water flowing from the site, through his property and into the inlet. “You should have seen it,” says Mr O’Kane who has never seen dirty water flow through his property in the 10 years he has lived there.
Mr O’Kane said the issue was raised before construction began, “What happens when there’s a downpour?”
Sediment-laden water tends to hang around in Forsters Bay as its shape is not conducive to being flushed out. Mr Sargent notes that the bay doesn’t get the tidal exchanges like the more open waters of the inlet.
Consequentially the EPA are concerned that the sediment could smother the floor of the inlet and prevent growth.
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