A new report by the Goulburn Mulwaree Council has revealed more properties with unacceptably high lead levels in Tarago.
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The lead testing came after an infant was tested for lead poisoning when their Tarago home was found to be 10 to 15 times above safe exposure limits earlier this year.
The public health issue was first brought to Goulburn Mulwaree Council's attention in February, 2020. At a community meeting in March it was revealed Transport for NSW (TfNSW) had known about the contamination since 2015.
The Goulburn Mulwaree Council issued the Tarago report at an ordinary council meeting on September 1.
According to the report, written by general manager Warwick Bennett, recent testing had revealed additional areas with unacceptable lead levels.
TfNSW testing at the start of the year showed unacceptable lead levels present at the Rail Siding and the Old Station Master's Cottage next to the train station.
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The council report said recent internal dust testing by TfNSW had revealed four more properties with lead levels higher than acceptable standards. The dust was found in entrance ways and carpet.
Additionally, three properties were found to have exceedances of lead in the soil. Two were located in Boyd Street with the other an agricultural property. The council report said it was believed the contamination was caused by surface water from the rail corridor.
When The Goulburn Post contacted TfNSW on September 2 about the issue they said more than 700 samples tested showed that generally lead levels across the town were low and acceptable and posed no greater risk to health and well-being than for anywhere else in the state.
TfNSW told The Goulburn Post they had tested 43 private properties and public spaces, and 60 rainwater tanks. Of the water tanks, sediment in 14 were found to contain elevated levels of lead.
TfNSW said contamination unrelated to the rail corridor was also identified on local public roads and three private properties. They said at some of these properties lead based paint was identified in poor condition.
A TfNSW spokesperson said an action plan for the interim management of lead on the Tarago rail corridor site had been developed and implementation was nearing completion.
"Work has started on the development of Remedial Action Plans for the rail corridor site," they said.
"These plans will outline how we will permanently ensure the community will not be exposed to lead contaminated material from the rail corridor site. Permanent site remediation is expected to be completed by early 2022."
The government body has set up seven groundwater wells and 10 surface water monitoring locations in the rail corridor and on public land.
