Eurobodalla Shire Council claims new water tests have revealed toxic leachate is not spreading into waterways adjacent to the Brou tip, but local fishing clubs remain concerned and are blaming contamination for a recent fish kill.
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Eurobodalla mayor Liz Innes confirmed the council this week had received verbal advice from the NSW Environmental Protection Authority about its latest round of testing at the Brou waste management facility.
Water testing of the creek on the adjacent private property by the EPA revealed that Brou tip was not the source of contamination concerns, she said. The EPA is finalising their report and the council understands it will be made public in the coming weeks.
“It is entirely appropriate that the EPA conduct the testing and investigate the concerns that have been raised,” Clr Innes said. “We have nothing to hide and welcome this level of transparency. Council has been cooperating with the EPA and NSW Fisheries after concerns were raised by an adjoining property owner.
“If pollution is occurring we want to know about it so it can be addressed. The community can be assured that landfill site operations are highly regulated by the EPA and council conducts regular ground and surface water testing via an independent laboratory, the results of which are provided to the EPA in accordance with the license requirements. This testing is designed to assist in identifying any potential pollution as early as possible.
“While all of the testing to date indicates that Brou tip is not the source of pollution concerns, council will continue to work with the authorities to identify potential sources of pollution and address the concerns that have been raised. If the Brou waste management site was a source of pollution then council would act to address the problem.”
Results of Council’s regular testing of the Brou and Surf Beach waste management facilities are publically available on Council’s website at:
The allegations of toxic leachate flowing from the Brou landfill into adjacent waterways and lake are now also being investigated by two Eurobodalla fishing clubs, and the clubs too are awaiting results of additional testing by the EPA.
Mayor Liz Innes met today with representatives from the Tuross Head Fishing Club and Tomakin Fishing Club, who themselves conducting sampling and witnessed a fish kill on Whittakers Creek that leads into Brou Lake that occurred in late December.
Tuross club secretary Max Castle said he was at a loss to why the Eurobodalla Shire Council up to this point had not being open and transparent with any testing of toxins potentially leaching out of the Brou tip.
Mr Castle also is vice president of Recreational Fishing Alliance and member of the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council of NSW.
“Why is there no testing being done outside the fence and where are the results of the testing being done inside the fence,” he said.
Mr Castle said he also wondered how the Brou tip had been allowed to expand when it sat on the site that was formerly identified as an aquatic reserve and he held concerns that leachate was now flowing into a sanctuary zone in the Batemans Marine Park.
Tomakin Fishing Club president Adam Martin also visited the waterways downstream from the tip with Mr Castle earlier this month after a recent fish kill and was very concerned about the potential impacts on the marine environment.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the toxic leachate was responsible for the fish kill we witnessed,” Mr Martin said. “At the very least there should be media alerts warning people while they can catch fish, they should not be consumed.”
Mr Castle said the president of the Australian National Sportfishing Association, Stan Konstantaras was also now looking into the issue and also served on ministerial advisory committee that directly advised NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair.