In the first two months of the project, apart from the funding of
the LEADLINE Project itself, there were no observable government actions or changes in
regard to lead. The following report on August, September and October has been prepared by
project officer Michelle Calvert.
On a number of occasions Government has responded to concerns raised by
the public or directly from LEADLINE regarding environmental lead issues.
Department of Administrative Services
As a Project Officer with The Lead Group I had counselled inquirers
concerned about Sydney flight path demolitions and I was concerned when I saw TV footage
of the demolition of a house at Sydenham and the worker was not wearing a protective mask.
I made contact with the CFMEU which is the trade union responsible for the workers on
site. No response was received. I also contacted the Department of Administrative Services
which is the government department overseeing and managing the project. The managers of
the insulation and demolition of dwellings, respectively, attended the office of The LEAD
Group and after some discussion undertook to investigate our concerns. As a result the
demolition and insulation program has now been suspended and new "Lead aware"
guidelines for contractors have been drawn up in keeping with advice from the NSW EPA and
WorkCover.
When questioned as to what action was envisaged regarding the schools
and dwellings that had already been insulated unsafely, the manager of the aircraft noise
insulation project stated that "nothing could be done about past history."
State Rail
On a visit to Tempe Railway station in Sydney’s inner west, I
noticed that the handrail and balustrade of the station appeared to have exposed "red
lead". After conducting a lead check kit test and obtaining a positive reading I
contacted State Rail to inform them of our concerns. The "red lead" was at such
a height that it was readily accessible to the many children who used the station and
would be tempted to run their hands along the railings and hand rail. After some
procrastination the offending rails have been sealed and painted and The LEAD Group have
been assured that they will be professionally repainted by February and that the top
overhead bridge and centre island handrails will be replaced in the next financial year.
Waterboard "KIRA" pre-school
In October 1995 the Kira Child Care Centre in Sydney’s inner east
was temporarily closed down when an adjacent site was found to have "concerning"
levels of contamination. The land occupied by the child care centre and the contaminated
adjacent site, was formerly a works depot of the Sydney Water Board. Enquiries revealed
that the centre is still closed and that children are being cared for at the Bathurst
Street headquarters of the Water Board.
Early Childhood Centre in premises owned by a Local Council
in Sydney
Results dated 13.10.95 revealed a reading of 20,000 ppm in ceiling dust
and the centre is presently closed. LEADLINE was able to provide useful information and
referrals to the Centre manager, the Local Council and the regional manager of Community
health services, who all contacted LEADLINE.
Pre school in premises owned by a Local Council
In late September 1995 The LEAD Group was contacted by a concerned
parent who had witnessed Council workers grinding off old paint from a wrought iron fence
at the pre school.
The parents had contacted us previously and so were aware of our
service. It transpired that renovations had begun on the centre in June and had been
proceeding on the interior of the building at night. The children were still attending the
centre during this time. The Local Council was contacted and meetings took place to
discuss the problem. The Council undertook a clean up of the site which included new sand
and some new top-soil. The Public Health Unit was called in by the Health Minister, Dr
Andrew Refshauge, to offer to all parents the opportunity to have their
children's blood
tested for lead.
