Onkaparinga Council will oppose plan to store PFAS waste at McLaren Vale dump
Adelaide’s largest council is speaking out against plans to store waste contaminated with potentially cancer-causing toxins in McLaren Vale.
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A plan to store contaminated waste at a southern dump will ‘undermine decades of promotion’ of the McLaren Vale wine region, the local council has warned.
The Environment Protection Authority is currently assessing an application from Southern Waste ResourceCo (SWR) to store PFAS-contaminated waste at its Tatachilla Rd landfill site.
PFAS – or per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – helps resist heat, stains and grease and was most famously used in fire fighting foams.
Potentially cancer-causing toxins from the foam have contaminated thousands of sites across Australia, including Largs North Fire Station, Adelaide Airport and RAAF Base Edinburgh.
In February, SWR sought approval to receive, store, treat and dispose of waste contaminated with PFAS at the McLaren Vale site.
Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson said the council had significant concerns about the plans.
“Aside from the potential safety aspects, the City of Onkaparinga and the entire state gain huge economic benefits from McLaren Vale’s branding and reputation as a sustainable wine region,” Ms Thompson said.
“The perception alone of storage of PFAS-contaminated material within 500m of the closest vineyards is very likely to undermine decades of promotion for the region, and negatively impact our international reputation for ‘clean and green’ produce.”
The full-term effects of PFAS chemicals on the environment are not yet known, but early studies have shown the toxin accumulates in the human body over time.
“Initial studies have shown significant risks relating to PFAS, including increased cholesterol among exposed populations, and more limited findings with links to low infant birth weights, immune system impacts, cancer and thyroid hormone disruption,” Ms Thompson said.
“One thing we do know is that PFAS compounds easily dissolve in water, making it likely that any leaching or accidental leaking from the facility would impact surrounding groundwater resources.
“In the EPA report, it states they will not license the disposal of liquid waste at the proposed site, yet throughout the report the term sludge is used, which is a thick slurry of both liquid and solids.
“It’s likely that leaching could still occur through the liquid components of any slurry disposed of at the site.”
Ms Thompson said 115 community members made submissions strongly opposing the move, despite a commitment by SWR to minimise risks of PFAS leaking into groundwater.
“Our view is ‘minimising’ risk is not as effective as not introducing it in the first place, and that a more appropriate site be found well away from residential homes and a protected internationally renowned wine region,” she said.
“The strong community opposition to this proposal should not be ignored.
“But there appears to be a presumption, reinforced by the fact that construction has commenced on site, that regardless of the feedback from community and industry, this facility will proceed and be managed by an EPA licence as yet unseen.”
An EPA spokesman said the application was currently being assessed.
SWR was contacted for comment.
The EPA will host a community drop-in session on Thursday, July 30, 2pm-8pm at the McLaren Vale Community Information Centre. See epa.sa.gov.au to register.
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