Qld toxic waste dump site 'not safe'

Qld toxic waste dump site 'not safe'

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE — Two recent scientific reports on Queensland's toxic waste dump at Gurulmundi, 390km west of Brisbane, have questioned its location and impact on underground water systems.

One report, by consultant Dr Brian Senior, describes the site as "an unsuitable environment for the long-term containment of toxic waste."

It says: "It appears likely in the medium to long term that, for the first time, this otherwise pristine and economically viable ground water resource [the Surat Basin] is in danger of widespread man-made pollution."

The availability of an alternative disposal method for toxic waste has also raised the possibility of a legal claim for negligence against the state and local governments responsible.

The Brisbane City Council and the state government's CHEM Unit recently rejected calls for a halt to the dump while and alternative treatment method, called Ecologic, is examined.

The community protest group People Against Toxic Chemical Hazards claims that failure to fully investigate dump alternatives could leave the state government, Brisbane City and Murilla shire councils open to legal action.

Queensland Greens convenor Drew Hutton said the Ecologic process had been known about for more than a year and "it would seem to be a vastly better bet than dumping toxic waste in hole on top of the Artesian Basin."

From GLW issue 113