Gurulmundi — a site not for toxic wastes

By Nikki Ulasowski

BRISBANE — More than 100 people gathered at City Hall here on October 12 to hear about the toxic waste dump in Gurulmundi. The forum was organised by PATCH (People Against Toxic Chemical Hazards), which has been campaigning against the dump for two years.

Two years ago the government announced a plan to use the Gurulmundi site as a dump for toxic wastes. However, studies conducted by three university experts has revealed that the site is unsuitable.

If the dump goes ahead, the community fears that the toxic chemicals will leak into the main water supplies for surrounding local communities and farms, in both Queensland and New South Wales.

Since protests began near the site, the area has been barricaded and is under tight security.

On the agenda for the October 14 management meeting of the Brisbane City Council is the decision on when to dump the toxic chemicals. PATCH understands that the outcome of the meeting will not be revealed to the public until after the chemicals have been dumped. The group has information indicating that under the council plan 150 tonnes of toxic wastes will be dumped every fortnight for the next 25 years.

From GLW issue 119