Mosman Woolworths: Contaminated soil discovered at supermarket site
After meeting significant backlash from residents, Woolworths is facing a fresh hurdle in its plans to build a new supermarket in the Mosman town centre after the discovery of contaminated soil at the site.
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Plans by Woolworths to open a new store in the Mosman town centre have been dealt a fresh blow after contaminated soil was discovered at the prominent town centre site.
Mosman Council has ordered the supermarket giant back to the drawing board over its contentious proposal to knock down a row of six shops on Military Rd to make way for a new $5.3 million Metro style supermarket.
After meeting significant backlash from residents and more than 500 submissions, the council has now requested a detailed plan on how Woolworths intends to address historic contaminants discovered on the site during an inspection in July.
A report to the council shows soil sampling undertaken by contactor JK Environments unearthed soil contamination including zinc and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), traced to possible historic filling of the site, pesticides, spills from gas traps, and potential leaks from two nearby former car mechanics.
The investigation stated PAHs “poses a potential risk to human receptors” but further studies would be required “to better assess the risks … and inform the site remediation requirements.”
The report concluded the site could be made suitable for the supermarket once a comprehensive hazmat survey is completed along with “further investigations to better characterise the risks and final remediation strategy for the site”.
In a letter sent on August 4, Mosman Council – which was due to determine the proposed store by August 18 – gave Woolworths 14 days to submit the remediation strategy but last week granted the retailer an extension until October 13.
Woolworths regional development manage Nathan Dundović, in his response to the council, said the company was “confident” it could provide the council with the information within the two month deadline.
“We are currently in the process of scoping the additional works required and will then need to undertake the testing,” Mr Dundović said.
“The testing and results will take approximately four weeks, with an additional four weeks required for our consultant to prepare a report and potentially a remediation action plan on the back of these findings. This will then need to be reviewed, amended where necessary and signed off by an auditor.”
The delay on the plans come after Mosman Council sent Woolworths a seven-page letter outlining 26 grounds of objection to the proposed supermarket.
Among the concerns were potential impacts on nearby small retailers in Mosman, Bridgepoint, Spit Junction, Cremorne and Neutral Bay along with the suitability of the supermarket in the shopping strip.
“The proposed design does not maintain the rhythm and form of the small shop fronts that provide an important contribution to the character and atmosphere of Mosman Junction,” the council said.
The latest count of submissions meanwhile shows 536 residents have provided feedback on the plan with the latest lodged to the council stating “not in Mosman thanks!!!!”
Woolworths head of property development Andrew Loveday said the company was “working through” issues raised by the council and residents.
“We’ve listened closely to the community feedback and revised our plans for our landholdings at Mosman,” he said.
“We look forward to our proposal being assessed in due course.”
If approved, the store is scheduled to open in June 2021 and would include a sushi bar, bakery, small cafe and a 20-space carpark, employing up to 42 people.
A decision on the proposal – first released back in 2018 – is now due to be handed down by November 18.