A report into lead contamination at Tarago Public School has found levels well above acceptable limits in bubblers previously used by students.
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The analysis, by Greencap, has also revealed lead levels above the standard in higher areas of some buildings and in soil under windows.
A parent says she is so angry by the revelation she won't send her children back to school until she's convinced it's safe. However, the school has undergone an environmental clean and bubblers have been capped. The Education Department says it is safe.
The parent has also told The Post that her investigations have revealed Goulburn Mulwaree Council knew about lead contamination at Tarago more than four months before it said it did.
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The community and council has been up in arms over the issue since February 28 when the EPA issued a draft declaration of significantly contaminated land. It related to the railway station corridor where Transport for NSW (TfNSW) was building a rail loop extension on land historically used to load and unload lead for the nearby Woodlawn Mine. TfNSW had known about the contamination since 2015.
Following a March community meeting, the authority has commissioned more than 500 soil, paint, air and water tests by consultants, Gamboll Australia, in and around Tarago. While most were within "low and acceptable limits," according to deputy director of the regional and outer metropolitan division, Carol-Anne Nelson, four areas of concern remained, including south of the old station master's cottage.
A family that lived in the cottage was relocated to Goulburn for at least six months after lead levels were found to be 10 to 15 times the safe exposure limit. The couple's 12-month-old child was said to be "on the upper threshold of acceptable standards."
Council general manager Warwick Bennett also told The Post on Thursday that he'd been advised that there could be "significant issues" with three homes in Stewart Street, but further testing was required.
But a resident, who did not wish to be named, said TfNSW had to be pushed to undertake lead contamination testing at the school, which relied on tanks for drinking water. Since February, students have relied on bottled water.
"We were outraged because on windy days the dust can blow over into the tanks," she said.
"We called them out on it in March and the Department of Education commissioned testing of the water. We only found out because TfNSW put it out the results on their (dedicated) webpage."
I think any contact my kids have with the water should be risk assessed.
- Parent
But while the report, by Greencap, was posted on the webpage on April 7, it has since disappeared. It was commissioned by Spotless, which cleans and maintains NSW Education Department facilities.
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A copy obtained by The Post showed that on March 5, when tests were undertaken, five bubblers and a kitchen tap in an onsite residential building had lead readings above the acceptable limit of 0.01mg/L. Concentrations ranged from 0.026 to 0.81. Another bubbler and kitchen tap in a residential building registered 0.008 and 0.007 respectively.
"The water samples in the majority returned analysis results approaching or above the adopted action level," the report stated.
"The elevated concentrations are manageable and should have minimal impact on the school's operations if the actions outlined are effectively put in place."
The consultants recommended that four bubblers not be used until further testing confirmed safe use and that two others should be flushed thoroughly at the start of every day and for five seconds before use.Two staff room taps had lead levels within acceptable limits but Greencap suggested flushing daily before use.
They cited NSW Health advice that flushing could dissolve lead and copper concentrations present in pipes and plumbing fittings.
"The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines note that (that) 'lead occurs in water via dissolution from natural sources or household plumbing containing lead,'" the report stated.
The authors do not draw a conclusion about the source of contamination.
'Historical contamination'
In response to overall test results, a TfNSW spokeswoman said they did not indicate recent construction work was the source of contamination.
Rather, it was "most likely the result" of the historic ore haulage operations from Woodlawn Mine dating back to the late 1970s to the late 1990s.
"There is also evidence of some movement of lead from the rail corridor to land in the vicinity of Boyd Street associated with historic flooding and the long-term movement of sediment along a drainage line," the spokeswoman said.
"The testing also indicates that while the station master's cottage was part of the rail corridor, operations took place within the land area of what is now the private residence, and those operations along with lead-based paint at the building may be potential sources of lead.
"Transport for NSW is working with the community to investigate all of the sources of lead more thoroughly and develop a long term management strategy."
The authority did not specifically answer why Greencap's water test report was removed from the website. The Post understands it was replaced with the Education Department's 'notification of works' newsletter, which was also sent to parents.
School's response
The April 8 newsletter to parents stated that grounds being watered from a bore had been tested and passed.
"As an extra precaution, water has been capped off to all bubblers at the school to avoid accidental use," it stated.
It also confirmed no presence of lead dust on surfaces above 1.8 metres.
"While elevated lead levels were returned from samples above 1.8 metres, the air monitoring results are consistent with normal air quality. Based on these results the hygienist has advised there is minimal lead exposure risk to staff and students," the newsletter stated.
"As a precaution the school has undergone an environmental clean and has been given a clearance certificate for dust levels by an independent hygienist confirming students and staff can return to school. An environmental clean of the ex-teacher's residence will be completed over the holiday period."
An Education Department spokesman said clearance certificates would be issued before the start of term 2, ensuring the school was safe for occupancy.
Higher than acceptable lead levels were also found in four of 17 soil samples. This soil was to be removed over the holidays and grassed over and access to these areas has been restricted.
The spokesman said the school remained safe for students and teachers.
"Regular cleaning and maintenance will take place and testing will occur three times a year. The school's cleaning contractor also regularly cleans surfaces to minimise the build-up of surface dust," he said.
"The department has communicated the results of the Greencap report alongside planned action and remediation via works notifications. These have been provided to the school community and to Transport NSW for publication on their website.
"The department is committed to ensuring the health and safety of students, staff and residents in the Tarago area and will continue keep local residents and the school community informed."
The reassurances are not enough for the parent.
"I'm trying to find out, with the recent increased emphasis on handwashing, what happens if my children wash their hands in contaminated water then pick up a sandwich to eat," she said.
"It's all very well to say they're not drinking it, but how much can be digested. I don't know."
The woman said her attempts to glean information from the Department of Education Infrastructure hotline went unanswered, as did an email to the department. She subsequently contacted the EPA, which said it would follow up.
"I'm a concerned parent, the Education Department won't speak to me, TfNSW sends me around in a circle, and the EPA is trying," she said.
"My point is that I won't send my kids back to school until I get some answers. I could be wrong (about the threat level) but I think any contact my kids have with the water should be risk assessed."
'The council knew'
The parent said she had also uncovered information that the council was advised about the lead contamination last October.
This was despite public statements that it only became aware in late February/early March.
She said TfNSW formally advised her that Ramboll Australia had given the council a copy of its safety plan, outlining how the community and workers would be protected from lead contamination, in October, 2019. The EPA received the same document in November.
Council general manager Warwick Bennett has confirmed the organisation received the Short Term Lead Management Plan on October 25.
"It was very generic documentation," he said.
"It was seen by staff and was not elevated to management because there was nothing in it that alerted staff that there was a significant issue. We were not aware until February/March when TfNSW asked us whether we knew about Ramboll's report."
Mayor Bob Kirk has also advised the resident that nothing had raised alarm bells with staff because the document assured them that correct procedures were being followed.
The Ramboll report stated preliminary investigations found "lead levels exceeding human health guideline values in certain parts of the site" and there was potential short-term exposure risk to workers. However the Plan contained measures to minimise this, the document stated.
Mr Bennett told The Post that the council had not been advised of the most recent water test results but was meeting again with TfNSW on March 13 and would continue talking them as new information came to light.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
