Wollongong City Council was aware a previous owner of the Helensburgh property now under investigation poured a chemical substance on fence posts at the site about 15 years ago.
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Records show that the former owner “applied a substance known as ‘mono chlor xylenol’ to fence posts associated with the animal closure at the premises”, the council said.
This revelation comes amid fresh fears by residents about chemical contamination at the 98A Parkes Street site, which has recently been excavated for a new development.
Last month, the council investigated an “antiseptic-like” smell emanating from the property after residents complained of a “putrid odour”.
Last week, the organisation ordered the developer to undertake soil sample testing.
“It is likely that the recent ... site excavation and preparation works have disturbed amounts of mono chlor xylenol (and/or other chemical substances) at the premises and into the atmosphere,” the council’s letter to the developer said.
The council has also ordered testing for “phenols and various fraction of phenolic compounds” and a series of compounds known as BTEX – which the NSW government says can “have adverse effects on human health”.
Despite the new confirmation that the council knew a chemical compound had been tipped on the site, it did not raise any contamination concerns when giving consent for two townhouses and a basement garage in December 2016.
“A desktop audit of previous land use does not indicate any historic use that would contribute to contamination of the site,” the council wrote in its planning assessment report at the time.
Planning director Andrew Carfield said the council was currently reviewing its records regarding the site’s history from 2002 and 2003.
“There is earlier history to this, which relates back around 15 years when council has become aware of and taken certain actions including clean up actions on the site,” Mr Carfield said.
“However, we’re doing a comprehensive review of that earlier history and I can’t really go into the detail of what happened until our review is complete.”
Asked whether there appeared to be a “missing link” between the council’s historical files and the assessment of the development last year, Mr Carfield said more investigation was needed.
“This is part of the council’s records we are reviewing, and we are reviewing it with the understanding of the knowledge we have with that previous investigation some 15 years ago, and also the linkage between that and the DA that was approved in December,” he said.
He said the council’s review was expected to be complete in the coming weeks, along with the developer’s soil testing.
Mr Carfield said soil testing could be a part of the normal development approval process.
“Our city, like others, has been through a period of growth and now you’re seeing a lot of development on land that has had previous uses,” he said.
“It’s very common in sites that have had a previous industrial use, it’s almost standard practice. Also often agricultural history can lead to some issues and in this case there was a horse stable on the site at a point in time.”
Chemicals to be tested:
Mono chlor xylenol – or chloroxylenol – is used in the household antiseptic brand Dettol. The smell at the Helenburgh site has been likened to Dettol.
The chemical has also been used as a cleaner by veterinarians, and about five years ago, an Australian company developed a cane toad spray using the chemical.
The council has also ordered testing of “phenols and various fractions or phenolic compounds” and BTEX as well as other compounds recommended by a consultant “based on historical land use”.
According to the NSW Resources and Energy department, BTEX is a commonly used abbreviation the compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes.
They are found in a range of products including tar, crude petroleum, diesel and petrol fuels and a variety of petroleum-related products, however people are exposed at low levels during “everyday activities” like driving a car, smoking or operating tools like chainsaws.
In high concentrations, the government says these compounds have the potential to have adverse effects on human health.
“In particular, benzene is a known carcinogen (a cancer-causing agent), which is why it is subjected to strict regulation,” a fact sheet on BTEX said.
The council has urged Helensburgh residents who have questions about their health to “contact their doctor in the first instance”.
Additionally, the Cancer Council Australia warns it is important to differentiate between a "cancer cluster" and a normal pattern of cancer diagnoses.
A cluster feature an unusually high number of the same type of cancer occurring in a group of people with a common exposure.