A Tarago resident is campaigning for a lead-contaminated former rail cottage to be cleaned and used for community benefit.
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Business owner and Tarago and District Progress Association Inc (TADPAI) member Judy Alcock argues it will be some compensation for the community following last year's lead contamination at the nearby railway siding.
Transport for NSW confirmed it completed purchase of the former station master's cottage in Goulburn Street, Tarago in April, 2021.
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"Transport for NSW is now focusing on remediation for the site," a spokesman said.
Mrs Alcock said the community had endured a great deal of stress since February, 2020 when it was revealed that lead ore had been disturbed in the railway corridor during construction of Veolia's rail loop extension. Contractor John Holland advised the EPA of the elevated lead levels but it later came to light that Transport for NSW had known of the contamination since, July 2019.
It was believed to be historical in nature, caused from ore loading at the siding for the former Woodlawn mine.
However, tests in early 2020 showed several properties had elevated lead levels. A 12-month-old child of the family living in the old station master's cottage was found to have 10 to 15 times the safe lead exposure level in his system. A six-year-old boy in the same family was "on the theshold of acceptable limits."
The family was relocated to Goulburn in late 2019 and Transport for NSW subsequently purchased the home.
The authority has also conducted lead testing around the site, in the town, in water tanks and supplies. It has also undertaken air quality tests. Four properties were cleaned of lead contamination, Transport for NSW said last December.
A spokesman said future plans for the cottage were yet to be determined but the community would be updated.
Mrs Alcock said the NSW coalition government's "bad decision" to allow the rail siding's extension even after being made aware of the lead contamination, had caused the situation.
She maintained it would be "an absolute disaster" if the 1884 house was demolished.
"We can't afford to lose it," she said.
"If it was cleaned and made habitable it could be used for a museum, a tourist centre, a visiting doctor's surgery, legal rooms, shop or any number of uses for the community's benefit.
"Transport for NSW knew about the lead contamination in 2019 but didn't tell anyone so this would be some kind of compensation. It would be a shame to lose it because it could be a huge asset."
She suggested the authority could lease the premises at a modest rent, in the same way the Tarago Men's Shed paid peppercorn rent to Goulburn Mulwaree Council for land adjoining its location.
The cottage contains three bedrooms, a living area and kitchen and Mrs Alcock said the layout was perfect for a multitude of purposes.
She has written to Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman pressing the community's case. Mrs Tuckerman undertook to make representations.
"I can certainly appreciate the community concerns regarding the caretakers cottage," she told The Post.
"At this stage TfNSW have advised me that they are in the process of investigating options surrounding the contaminated site."
TADPAI president Kym Wake said Tarago was "very keen" to secure the house.
"It's a nice little building with historical value attached," he said.
"It would be sad if it was bulldozed...Let's put it to some use and not let it stagnate."
But it also depended on the structure's remediation and an arrangement with Transport for NSW.
Mr Wake said it was sad that the family had to move out.
They had only purchased the home a year earlier. The family has since relocated.
Transport for NSW declined to state how much it had paid for the cottage and whether any further legal action had ensued.
The former owner said he respected the community's wish to transform the building for a functional use but this was at Transport for NSW' discretion.
Meantime, an authority spokesman said monitoring around Tarago of air and surface water quality had continued and results showed "no contamination."
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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.
