Creek under toxic threat

South Lismore resident Amanda Morris, along with Steve Beddoes and his family, are concerned about environmental pollution.

After regularly seeing oily water and black sludge in the drain on Taylor Street, South Lismore resident Steve Beddoes commissioned an independent laboratory test of the water and drain sediment. When the test results came back, he was shocked to find there were high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in the test samples and is concerned about what effects these pollutants could be having on Hollingworth Creek, into which the drain flows.

“If the water is polluted, then what does this mean for the school children who utilise the Riverview Park playing field, which runs alongside Hollingworth Creek?” Mr Beddoes asked.

Mr Beddoes said many years ago he used to fish in the creek but now does not let his children fish there due to pollution concerns.

The street in South Lismore is part of an industrial-zoned area and is used by Hernes truck company. Hernes has a DA to be operating on the adjoining street, Hollingsworth Street, but trucks are not to be maintained on the public road or road reserve.

“They have been conducting mechanical repairs in the street,” Mr Beddoes, who has complained to Lismore City Council about the matter, said.

“We are now seeing oil in the drains and the stormwater runs down the street into the creek.”

Mr Beddoes said Council staff and councillors had visited the site a number of times over the past few years and had told him that they didn’t know where the pollution was coming from, but that they would do a study of the workshop.

“Council has been saying this for three years but they haven’t done a thing,” Mr Beddoes said. “When I spoke to councillors at an on-site meeting, I asked them to put bunding in the drain and they said ‘we’ll have to look into it’,” Mr Beddoes said. “I’ve also been fighting Hernes over dust and noise issues and trucks going too fast down our street for four years, but nothing has been done.”

The laboratory test of the water and sediment samples was conducted by the laboratory manager from the Environmental Analysis Laboratory at Southern Cross University (SCU), Graham Lancaster.

Mr Lancaster said the test results showed the levels of petroleum hyrdocarbons in the water and sediments were nine times higher than the highest recommended level allowed for service station site contamination before it needed remediation.

“The standard recommended level is 1000 parts per million,” Mr Lancaster said. “These test results showed 9320 ppm.”

Mr Lancaster said the high levels of hydrocarbons found in the water were of the C15-C28 carbons, which were usually found in residual gas, oil, paraffin or asphalt samples. He said that even in areas where roadworks were being conducted, asphalt did not usually create such high levels of these residual carbon types. Mr Lancaster also said the lead levels in the samples were elevated.

SCU lecturer in environmental chemistry and marine pollution Mandy Reichelt said while further studies would need to be done to investigate what effects these pollutants could be having on the waterway, such high levels of hydrocarbons could accumulate in the sediment.

“It could create anoxic conditions, where there is a lot of bacteria growth and the system becomes depleted of oxygen,” Ms Reichelt said. “All organisms need oxygen and this could affect an organism’s capacity for survival.”

Ms Reichelt also said the lead levels in the water exceeded guideline trigger values for 99% protection of freshwater ecosystems.

“According to ecotoxicity studies, organism exposure to these concentrations can impact on important life stages of species such as reproduction. Longer durations of exposure can result in a greater impact,” Ms Reichelt said.

Solicitor from the Environmental Defender’s Office in Lismore Sue Higginson said the test results which show contamination at this high level should send alarm bells to the regulatory authorities.

“The seriousness of the finding is compounded given the proximity of the river. It is an offence to pollute land and water without lawful authority. We are not aware of any lawful authority to pollute the land or the waters in that locality,” Ms Higginson said. “If there are polluting activities continuing in that locality the regulatory authorities should act immediately and as a minimum, issue appropriate orders to stop and clean up.”

Council compliance co-ordinator Matt Kelly said Council had received the test results and would be investigating the matter.

When The Echo contacted Hernes’ owner Stewart Herne he said he had not previously conducted any tests on the water or soil in the area as it was not his responsibility to do this, but Council’s.

South Lismore resident Amanda Morris said she was concerned that the pollution on Taylor Street was affecting the endangered sweet myrtle trees (Gossia fragrantissima), which were regenerating in the area near her home.

“When we bought the property, we were told it was an environmental reserve on the creek and is an environmentally-sensitive area,” Ms Morris said. “We appreciate Hernes is a big employer in the area, but we don’t want to see them take advantage of the community by expanding their business at the community’s expense and polluting the environment.

“We would like to see Hernes move their operations to the Lismore industrial area, away from the waterway. Council spent $8 million creating the industrial area, so why not use it?

“Even if Hernes was to stop using Taylor Street and conduct all their operations on Hollingsworth Street, it is still an inappropriate location because it is directly next to the creek,” Ms Morris said. “They need to responsibly manage their waste.”