Sydney Park contamination could harm marine life: Expert

A “toxic cocktail” of pollutants stemming from Sydney Park could harm marine life in nearby waterways, an environmental expert has warned

Sydney Park Kiosk operator Jemma Lane. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

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A “toxic cocktail” of pollutants stemming from Sydney Park could harm marine life in nearby waterways, an environmental expert has warned.

The state’s environmental watchdog has assured the popular St Peters park is “safe for use” despite declaring it as “significantly contaminated land”.

This was after recent tests showed elevated levels of methane and carbon dioxide at the former landfill site.

Symptoms from methane exposure can range from dizziness and headaches to slurred speech and nausea.

Sydney Park has been declared “significantly contaminated land”.

A spokeswoman for the City of Sydney told the Courier “the levels are very low” and “there are no identified health risks”.

“We regularly monitor landfill gas levels at the park including methane, a bi-product of the decomposition of organic materials such as food and garden waste,” she said.

“Exposure to methane is considered low risk in open spaces such as parks, as it dissipates and cannot concentrate.”

A sign warning of elevated methane concentrations at the park. Picture: Kate Christian

The council has submitted a management plan which outlines further investigations and possible site remediation.

Ian Wright, a lecturer in environmental science at Western Sydney University, said he was concerned rotting landfill could also release a “toxic cocktail” of pollutants into waterways such as Alexandra Canal, the lower Cooks River and Botany Bay.

“Where there is methane and carbon dioxide there will be other potentially more hazardous pollutants, such as metals and even pesticides,” Dr Wright said.

“Old rubbish dumps used to be very poorly regulated.

“I am certainly concerned about the potentially toxic effects of the chemicals in the landfill having harmful effects on fish, bird and all sorts of aquatic life.”

About 300 St Peters Park runners jog through the park every Saturday. Picture: Linda Uhr

Sydney Park Kiosk operator Jemma Lane questioned whether excavation and demolition works carried out around as part of WestConnex had triggered the release of methane.

“That would be logical in my mind that if you start messing with an old tip you are going to change the levels,” Mr Lane said.

“There has been many smells over last year-and-a-half with all the works on Campbell St and Euston Rd.

“Methane is not as scary a polluter as carbon monoxide that is coming from tunnels that are going in all over the inner west.”

Sydney Park.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Protection Authority said testing and assessment had not identified any immediate risks from landfill gas to park users or surrounding residents.

“The NSW EPA does not have any information to indicate a release of pollutants into Alexandra Canal from the park,” she said.

“The EPA can confirm that the contamination at the park has no relation to the works carried out at WestConnex.”

St Peters Park Run founding event director Paul Wilcock welcomed more testing to make sure the park is safe.

“We don’t want people turning up for nice morning run in the park and going away with health issues,” he said.

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