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MEDIA RELEASE

RADIONUCLIDE INVESTIGATION SEEKS COMMUNITY COMMENT

Last August BHP Steel announced that they had found small amounts of radionuclide emissions from their sinter plant. Following the announcement the EPA and Illawarra Public Health Unit requested that an independent investigation be conducted into the environmental and potential health impacts of these emissions. Healthy Cities Illawarra (non-government, community organisation) was invited to Chair the committee to ensure its independence and community ownership. The committee comprises representatives from community groups including Port Kembla Pollution Meeting, IRATE, Cringila -Warrawong Community Forum, Primbee Residents Committee and the West Dapto Neighbourhood Committee. BHP, Environment Protection Authority, Illawarra Public Health Unit and Wollongong City Council make up the rest of the committee. The committee has been established to:

1. Define the Terms of Reference for the investigation
2. Coordinate the tender process and selection of a suitably qualified and experienced independent expert to conduct the investigation
3. Ensure that the investigation is conducted in an open and transparent manner and is communicated to the public throughout the process.
4. Make recommendations for action based on the results of the investigation.

Following four months of meetings and discussion, a community committee set up to investigate radiation from BHP, has released its draft Terms of Reference for the investigation and is calling for public comment prior to it being released for tender.

“We want to get thoughts and ideas from individuals about this investigation to ensure that it answers the questions that our community has about this issue” Committee Chairperson, Frank Wallner said.

“People should feel free about having their say as the issue is new for everyone on the committee. We are certainly not experts in radiation that is why we will be employing independent experts to answer the questions that the community would like answered” Mr Wallner added.

The investigation intends to determine the amount of radionuclides emitted from the sinter plant, identify other potential sources in the Illawarra and determine the health risks from these radionuclide sources.

“It is really important that this investigation has as much community input as possible, so we will also be conducting a public meeting in February to provide people with the opportunity to ask questions to the independent expert about the investigation” Mr Wallner said.

The Terms of Reference are available by contacting Healthy Cities Illawarra on 4226 5000.

Further information: Frank Wallner 4226 5000