Fears contaminated soil could put brakes on $6.7 billion road project

Unions want “moon suits” to protect their workers. Could this discovery at a work site on the much-needed West Gate Tunnel project lead to delays and a showdown?

The $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel faces delays after soil on a work site was found to be contaminated with a chemical that shut down the Fiskville CFA training college.

Crisis meetings have been held between workplace safety officials and tunnel builders, but work is continuing in non-affected areas despite unions’ growing angst about the safety issue.

Traces of industrial chemicals known as PFAS have been found in soil on site, and some of the affected material has been removed.

It is understood union officials called for protective outfits — referred to as “moon suits” — to be worn as an added precaution, but this was rejected for fear motorists on the West Gate Freeway would be spooked.

Authorities have told workers that the level of contamination is not high enough to stop work site-wide.

However, an increasingly volatile CFMEU is moving on to a war footing over the issue and is believed to be considering mounting a public campaign.

Traces of industrial chemicals known as PFAS have been found in soil on the West Gate tunnel site. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The CFMEU declined to comment tonight.

One senior industry source said the contamination was “no Fiskville” but was still being treated seriously and concerns must be resolved.

“Delays to the project are possible,” the source said.
A spokeswoman for the West Gate Tunnel Project, which will link the West Gate Freeway to CityLink via a tunnel and elevated bridge, said that “finding contaminated soil is part and parcel of construction in industrial areas” and there were “strict safety measures in place to deal with it”.

“Low levels of PFAS have been identified in soil being dug up in industrial areas for the West Gate Tunnel Project,” she said.

“It is being removed from the sites to be disposed of safely at licensed landfill sites.”

The other major union on site is the Australian Workers’ Union, and state secretary Ben Davis said the matter must be dealt with urgently.

“If the affected soil hasn’t been removed already, it should be,” he said.

The Footscray entrance to the tunnel, pictured in June. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Davis has also hit out at the way the project builders were dealing with industrial matters, including walking away from a tunnelling EBA and using labour hire instead.

He said this would “cost millions of dollars extra”.

The Joint Venture did not respond tonight.

A WorkSafe spokeswoman said the PFAS matter was being monitored.

“WorkSafe has visited the site numerous times to ensure health and safety regulations are being complied with,” she said.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the matter was among the “issues that occur from time to time across a range of different major projects”.

“Wherever this occurs, on projects in private operations there are very strict measures and procedures that need to be followed for the removal of that material. That’s what I am advised has occurred and is occurring at the West Gate Tunnel project and that is being also carefully monitored by the relevant agencies.”

Ms Allan would not comment on the level of contamination but said it was hoped the project would still be delivered on time.

Artist impression of a finished West Gate tunnel entrance.

Elevated levels of manufactured chemicals known as PFAS, which are used in some firefighter foams, was blamed for a cancer cluster at the CFA’s notorious Fiskville training centre, which was shut down in 2015.

The chemical has been found in other sites across Victoria, but usually at less concentrated levels that don’t warrant the same human health concerns.

A complicating factor in resolving the West Gate Tunnel issue has been that the Joint Venture, made up of CPB Contractors and John Holland, is in a standoff with unions representing workers on site, and are meeting separately with WorkSafe.

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Industry figures are also concerned that the CFMEU is spoiling for a fight after the crisis that embroiled its state secretary, John Setka.

Mr Setka has been under siege since it was revealed he harassed his wife with “misogynist” and “nasty” texts and political leaders urged him to stand down.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has even attempted to expel the militant union leader from the ALP, in a move backed by Premier Daniel Andrews.

The tunnel is scheduled to open in 2022.

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