Arsenic poisoning claim: Toxic soil forces Diamond Creek family from home

UPDATE: THE mother of a young family who were forced out of their Diamond Creek home due to suspected arsenic poisoning from contaminated soil, says it’s been the worst experience of their lives.

UPDATE: THE mother of a young family believed to be suffering arsenic poisoning and forced to leave their Diamond Creek home, says its been “the worst experience” of their lives.

The family’s Hoddle Place home, and a number of other houses, abut an abandoned gold mine site, which was fenced off for 15 years before a housing developer allegedly acquired it three years ago.

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Kim Murdoch said she found out her property, including inside her home, was riddled with arsenic after her insurance company was looking into a flood damage claim in December 2017.

Ms Murdoch said the “alarming” levels prompted the family to get checked.

“It’s one thing to say that it (arsenic) will come out of your body but what damage has it done while it’s in there?” she said.

“We might not know until it’s too late. It’s not good enough.

“We thought we made a great investment in a beautiful area but … it’s been the worst experience of our life,” she said.

Ms Murdoch bought the home in 2002 and said she was oblivious to the contamination concerns and testing completed by the EPA in 2001.

“The previous owners put the deck in, put it on the market and sold it to us despite being told they should take legal action,” she said.

“We have been out there doing a lot of work, digging to make it a usable levelled space, completely unaware we were working in contaminated soil.”

She said since the EPA “found out about us” a couple of months ago, neighbours were letterbox dropped, giving them two days notice about a meeting to discuss the development at the old gold mine.

“It’s a cover up to make up for the years of inaction,” she said.

Kim Murdoch and son Axle. Picture: Hamish Blair

EARLIER: A YOUNG Diamond Creek family believed to be suffering arsenic poisoning from abandoned gold mines in the area, has been forced to leave their home.

The family’s Hoddle Place home, and a number of other houses, abut a site which was fenced off for 15 years, before a housing developer allegedly acquired it three years ago.

That site is still vacant.

Law firm Gordon Legal is now gathering evidence for a class action against the EPA, who is believed to have known of dangerous levels of arsenic on that site, at 50 Fraser St, for a staggering 18 years.

The site of a former gold mine at 50 Fraser Place, which is believed to contain dangerous levels of arsenic.

Associate Fiona Rothville said that Hoddle Place residents Kim Murdoch and her family believed they were poisoned with arsenic from soil in their backyard, contaminated by former gold mines.

Ms Rothville said EPA Victoria tested the Murdochs’ backyard soil and confirmed it was contaminated with high levels of the toxic chemical.

Arsenic is a dangerous toxin which, if ingested in small amounts over time, can cause damage to vital organs, cancer and even death.

Ms Rothville said the firm was exploring a potential class action.

“The EPA knows this is a serious issue, but frankly their response has not been good

enough, particularly given they have known about this issue since 2000,” she said.

She said the EPA had advised residents to cover potentially contaminated soil with topsoil, keep their children inside, mop outside areas and wash pets regularly.

“We just don’t think it’s good enough to expect residents to solve a problem like this by

popping down to Bunnings and buying some top soil to cover it up,” Rothville said.

“In particular, trying to tell people to keep their kids inside and wash their pets and mop outside areas is just ridiculous.”

Hoddle Place residents believe they were poisoned with arsenic from soil in their backyard. Picture: Hamish Blair

Angry neighbours told the Leader they were now getting their own health checks, including urine tests, and no longer believed EPA claims the soil was safe.

They said they were told arsenic poisoning “hot spots” at 50 Fraser St, which used to be the site of a gold mine, were safe.

“We were led to believe the EPA were keeping tabs on the site,” one of them said.

“It was fenced off for 15 years, then three years ago a developer was given

the go-ahead to work at the site providing he met certain guidelines.

Another resident said the issue was “swept under the rug” while another said they were having urine tests for “peace of mind”.

“The EPA tested soil at the back and front of our properties but we’re now getting tested because our neighbours have been affected,” the neighbour said.

In a statement, an EPA spokesman said they notified residents about the contamination in 2001 and recently helped a woman after she was concerned for her family’s health.

“Assessment of soil locally is being undertaken by EPA officers to provide residents in the area with a better understanding. Results are being provided to them as they become available, as well as any advice regarding simple steps to limit exposure to arsenic,” he said.

“Soils rich with gold often contain higher concentrations of arsenic. It is relatively easily managed with some simple steps.”

A Nillumbik Council spokesman said the council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) approved subdivision in 2008 on the site of the old gold mine.

He didn’t say whether the council was aware of the arsenic contamination, but said any development on the site would have to pass an environmental audit proving it safe and suitable for development.

Gold was first discovered at the Diamond Creek Mine at 50 Fraser St in 1862, and at its peak was found 350m deep, before it was closed in the 1960s.

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