STOCKTON residents were horrified after learning of a second industrial accident at Orica’s Kooragang plant when arsenic above permissible levels was discharged into the Hunter River.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage issued a statement at 6.05pm Friday that said Orica had discharged into the Hunter River up to 1.2megalitres of plant waste water that contained arsenic above their allowed licence concentrations.
It said the discharge was not related to the emission of hexavalent chromium at the ammonia plant two weeks ago.
Read The Newcastle Herald's opinion by clicking here .
Under the plant’s Environmental Protection Licence limit the company can discharge arsenic at concentrations of 0.05milligrams a litre but it was in concentrations of 0.067milligrams a litre when it washed from an effluent storage pond and into the river Friday morning.
The Office of Environment and Heritage said Orica notified it at 3pm Friday.
The office said it had begun an investigation into the incident and ordered Orica to provide a full and thorough report as soon as possible.
A department spokeswoman said they did not expect the increase in the concentration of arsenic to have an impact on the health of the Hunter River but the office was in discussions with NSW Health and had notified Department of Primary Industries fisheries officers.
‘‘People shouldn’t have any concerns about recreation on the river,’’ she said.
NSW Health issued a statement last night stating it had been advised that the concentration of arsenic was not expected to have a measurable impact on the Hunter River.
‘‘The Office of Environment and Heritage will provide NSW Health with further background information to confirm no human health impact,’’ it said.
An Orica spokeswoman described it as a ‘‘minor incident’’ that would not normally warrant a media release and they were investigating.
The Hunter Community Environment Centre said there was ‘‘clearly something going wrong’’ at Orica.
Spokesman Steve Phillips said the Hunter estuary was an internationally recognised protected wetland that was home to many important migratory bird species and used by many local fishermen.
‘‘We do have concerns about the health of the Hunter River,’’ he said.
‘‘We would call on the NSW Government to require Orica to close down until they sort out their problems and they can convince the people of Newcastle that it has things under control.’’
Environment Minister Robyn Parker said the incident was further evidence that the legislation around reporting incidents needed to be changed, which the government’s inquiry would address.
‘‘It gives us a chance to fix this,’’ she said.
She referred all other questions to the Office of Environment and Heritage, which she said was the regulator that handled licence breaches.
Long-time Stockton resident Kristi Butler expressed her shock and disbelief that a second incident could occur so soon after the previous one.
Like many residents, she thought the plant had closed while an investigation into the first incident was under way – but only the ammonia plant was shut down eight days ago.
‘‘I think it’s disgusting,’’ she said.
She said her partner regularly fished in the river and she and her children swam there in summer.
‘‘I want to know it’s safe to grow vegies, I want to know it’s safe to eat my chicken’s eggs and fish from the river,’’ she said.
‘‘[Orica] are making it very hard for themselves to stay.’’
Another resident, who did not want to be identified, said it was not the first time an incident like that had happened and the company had previously expelled other toxic chemicals into the river.
Orica Kooragang’s website shows it has not met its environmental protection licence requirements for nine out of the past 10 years.
An almost identical arsenic contamination happened in 2009, only at concentrations of 0.1milligrams a litre.
‘‘This isn’t an isolated incident and they have not addressed it,’’ the unnamed resident said.
Newcastle MP Tim Owen said he ‘‘could not believe’’ it when told of another incident at Orica.
‘‘For me personally I’m extremely disappointed and concerned we have this kind of thing happen again,’’ he said.
‘‘The company needs to be held to account and clearly the Office of Environment and Heritage are on the case.’’
Newcastle lord mayor John Tate said the company had lost the public’s confidence.
‘‘It’s just incredible there could be another incident like this,’’ Cr Tate said.
‘‘Is there an endemic procedure problem that needs to be rectified?
‘‘Government have got to make sure they tow the line.’’
Email a friend