Homebush estate to be tested for contamination

A resident of a Homebush West housing estate has welcomed news the site will finally be tested for toxic substances to determine whether their health is at risk.

The contaminated site at Homebush West — the Centenary Park estate (above) — will be tested for toxic substances after an investigation by the state’s environmental watchdog, the Environmental Protection Authority.

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A resident of a Homebush West housing estate has welcomed news the site will finally be tested for toxic substances to determine whether their health is at risk.

However, many homeowners of the Centenary Park complex are afraid to speak up out of fear it could cause their property prices to tumble.

An investigation order issued by the State’s environmental watchdog states “there is potential for landfill leachate and landfill gas to have migrated” onto the massive estate on Courallie Ave.

A brochure image of the estate promised — a wonderful urban community with fountains and a sparkling pool.

The contamination stems from an old landfill next door — owned by Ford Motor Company — which is working with developer Telmet Ventures to test the site “as soon as possible”.

The Environmental Protection Authority brought the parties together for a meeting on February 13 to break a three year deadlock over access to the site.

The order issued by the EPA “reasonably suspects” the estate’s groundwater is “potentially contaminated” with a range of toxic substances including ammonia, formaldehyde, landfill gases and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline.

“The EPA suspects that the old landfill leachate is now migrating south from the old landfill and is potentially contaminating the (estate),” the order said.

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A resident described the three year stalemate over Ford’s access to the site to carry out testing as a “travesty”.

“The tests should have been done immediately so they could tell us if it poses a risk to our health or not,” the resident, who did not want to be identified, said.

“A lot of the owners refuse to talk about it because they are worried it could be damaging to their property prices.

“Well, I don’t think property prices are as important as people’s health.

The estate’s land will finally be tested for toxic substances three years after the risk of contamination was first raised.

“If you were told a toxic chemical dump is potentially leaking into property, you would want to know about and want something done about it really quickly wouldn’t you?”

The estate is home to about 2500 people who paid up to $850,000 for an apartment in the complex, lured by glossy brochures promising a sparkling pool and a vibrant community with barbecues and playgrounds.

“It’s interesting because when I bought the property there was an EPA report saying the land the (estate) is on had been remediated and cleared of toxic chemicals but there was no reference to the toxic chemical dump right next door,” he said.

A brochure image of the site.

Strathfield state Labor MP Jodi McKay said it was “shameful” it had taken three years for the parties to broker an agreement over testing of the site.

A lawyer acting for Telmet Ventures did not answer questions from the Courier about whether the company had provided the EPA with a plan to test the site as ordered and he would not say when the investigation works would be carried out.

“We have given our full explanation and chronology of the correct information to EPA,” he said.

“You should contact EPA for whatever expansion the EPA is prepared to provide.”

Ford spokesman Martin Gunsberg said: “Ford and Telmet met in November 2015 to discuss site investigation”.

“All parties are working together to finalise the agreement to access the site so that we can test as soon as possible.”

A statement issued by the EPA on February 13 assures the agency will continue to oversee the process to ensure the investigation works are carried out properly and promptly.

“The investigation will commence after the scope has been agreed by the owners corporation and the EPA, and after an access deed has been finalised between Ford and The Owners Corporation,” the statement said. “This may take up to 6 weeks.”