NSW: Clean up of Homebush bay proposal slammed by green groups

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2000
NSW: Clean up of Homebush bay proposal slammed by green groups

Green groups say transporting toxic waste to Queensland instead of destroying it on
site at Homebush Bay in Sydney is putting communities at unnecessary risk.

The New South Wales government says it wants to clean up the site near Olympic Park,
described as one of Australia's most polluted.

New technology will be used to heat up the contaminated soil in special ovens to separate
the toxic waste, known as dioxins.

This will then be transported to a treatment plant in Queensland where it will be destroyed
in a relatively new process called plasma blasting.

The announcement has been greeted with disbelief by Greenpeace and Clean Up Australia.

They say the government's own conditions for the project have ruled out transporting
or removing the dioxins.

Clean Up Australia Chairman IAN KIERNAN says transporting the toxic material to Queensland
is placing another community at risk when this material could safely and responsibly be
treated on site.

But state Transport Minister CARL SCULLY, who announced the $90 million project, has
rejected the claim and says the plan will put no communities at risk.

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KEYWORD: OLY TOXIC (SYDNEY)

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