EPA Monitor

The 3-day visit by EPA Chief Executive Tony Circelli, Director Regulation Peter Dolan and Director Strategy and Assessment Kathryn Bellette included stopovers and familiarisation visits to CU-River Mining’s proposed port facility in Port Augusta, GFG Alliance’s Whyalla Steelworks, Sundrop Farms and Nyrstar’s Port Pirie smelter.

            EPA executive team members at GFG Alliance’s Whyalla Steelworks

On Monday 9 November EPA executive team members visited the site of the former Port Augusta Power Station, now owned by iron ore magnetite producer CU-River Mining, which is establishing a port facility on the site.

The executive team members were particularly interested to see the steps taken by CU-River Mining to rehabilitate the site it purchased from Flinders Power in 2019, particularly rehabilitation of the old ash dam.

The EPA group also met with GFG Alliance staff in Whyalla and toured the steelworks on Tuesday 10 November to learn more about the company’s plans to improve the plant.

GFG recently reaffirmed its commitment to upgrading the ageing steelworks to transform the plant into a world leading 'greensteel' facility. The $1-billion expansion plan includes the installation of an electric arc furnace, a direct reduced iron facility and a new state-of-the-art rolling mill, by 2024.

The new plant will be fed by natural gas, in time transitioning to green hydrogen produced from GFG’s own renewable energy projects including Cultana – one of Australia’s largest solar farms, being built in Whyalla.

There was also the opportunity to meet with members of the long-standing Whyalla Environmental Consultative Group, known locally as the ECG, who advocate on behalf of the community on various environmental protection issues in Whyalla. Their feedback on areas needing attention remains a valued source of information for the EPA.

The EPA Executive Team members also visited SunDrop Farms near Port Augusta which uses energy smart technology to grow fresh vegetables hydroponically. The team was keen to know more about the company’s plans to build a new $4.5-million desalination plant on the site.

                EPA executive team members at SunDrop Farms in Port Augusta

The visit ended on Wednesday 11 November with a bus tour of Nyrstar’s Port Pirie smelter to hear and see firsthand the efforts underway to improve environmental performance at the site. This was followed by a catch-up with Port Pirie Regional Council Mayor Leon Stephens and CE Peter Ackland, on their current areas of focus, before returning to Adelaide.

The guideline was developed following 2 years of consultation with dredge licensees and other stakeholders including councils and State Government agencies.

It will help those seeking EPA dredging approval to better understand the environmental risks of dredging and the EPA’s expectations on how risks will be managed.

Dredging is a prescribed activity under the Environment Protection Act 1993 and can only be undertaken with an environmental authorisation in the form of a licence.

The EPA also has regulatory responsibilities under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 for development assessment of dredging proposals referred by the relevant planning authority.

The guideline covers advice and information including:

• The approval process and timeframes for dredge applications.
• Identification and risk analysis of environmental impacts associated with dredging and EPA expectations of risk-based management of these impacts.
• Information required by the EPA to assess dredging proposals according to the nature of the activity.
• Advice on the preparation of dredge management plans and monitoring programs.
• Introduction of a simplified process for routine maintenance dredging activity.
• Requirements for community engagement when neighbouring work is involved.

The EPA will assess all development and licence applications, dredge management plans and environmental monitoring programs, in accordance with the new guideline to determine whether all reasonable and practicable measures have been taken to minimise environmental harm.

The EPA will also work with applicants and licensees to help them apply the guideline.

Stockpiling can result in environmental harm, through stockpile fires and exposing the community to smoke and dust, as well as creating a financial liability for others if a site is abandoned.

Materials that can be stockpiled include soils, fill and overburden, construction and demolition waste, as well as timber, green waste, residual waste and industry byproducts.

The stockpiling guideline has further information about everyone’s obligations to circulate waste and other matter under the Environment Protection Act 1993, and the EPA’s powers to promote the circulation of material.

These powers include imposing maximum allowable stockpile limits as a condition of an EPA authorisation.

Stockpile management plans may also be required to assist the EPA in setting reasonable and practical stockpile limits where businesses have a genuine need to stockpile larger amounts of waste or other materials for a period of time.

The new guideline sets out the EPA’s minimum expectations for the management of potential risks, and it addresses issues related to on-site layout, stability and dimensions of stockpiles, material flow and timeframes for storing waste or other matter.

For more information on stockpiling controls, including financial assurances, refer to the information sheet: Financial assurances and stockpiling - who, when, what and how much

The release of the spatial maps follows an EPA commitment to progressively expand its online public register to provide transparent, accessible and timely information to the public.

Since making that commitment the EPA has revamped its website and released new datasets on its public register regarding radiation licences and variations to licence conditions. Making the spatial maps freely available is another policy improvement initiative designed to improve public accessibility of information.

The information the spatial maps represent is already available on the site contamination index, however the release of the maps recognises that some people may find the visual information more helpful.

The mapping shows records held by the EPA which date back to 1 July 2009.

It can be used to view Groundwater Prohibition Area (GPA) boundaries where the EPA has prohibited or restricted the taking of groundwater if site contamination affects or threatens groundwater and presents an actual or potential risk to human health.

The maps also show notifications received under section 83A of the Environment Protection Act 1993, of site contamination that affects or threatens underground water which have been placed in the public register.

It is important to note that some of the information recorded is historic and some sites shown on the maps may have been remediated. In addition some sites may have now been assessed and found not to pose a risk.

Groundwater contamination records

The Radiation Protection and Control Act 1982 (Act) requires that a register be kept of accreditations and authorities granted under the Act, and this requirement is delegated to the EPA.

The EPA maintains a printed version of the register of radiation licensees which it has made available on request.

However furthering the EPA reforms and steps to increase public notifications of incidents, details relating to radiation licences have now been added to the online register.

The directory holds radiation authorisations for:

• a licence to operate ionising radiation
• a licence to use or handle radioactive substances
• accreditations of third party certification holders.

The information includes the licensee name, licence number and specific conditions of the licence where appropriate.

All licensees were informed of the change prior to the information being published.

On Thursday 29 October EPA Chief Executive Tony Circelli and Director Regulation Peter Dolan attended a community meeting in McLaren Vale to listen to local residents’ concerns and answer questions about SWR’s application.

In response to increased community interest, the EPA has written to more than 4,000 residents in parts of Seaford Rise, Moana, Maslin Beach, Tatachilla and McLaren Vale to update them on SWR’s licence application and encouraging locals to sign up to the EPA’s community information service.

There are strict criteria around the disposal of PFAS-contaminated waste, and landfill operators must demonstrate they have appropriate mechanisms and engineering in place for testing, handling and disposal.

While lesser standards are approved nationally, in South Australia PFAS-contaminated waste is only permitted to be disposed of in specially engineered landfills with a single or double composite lining system.

The EPA is assessing SWR’s proposal against the landfill acceptance criteria outlined in the PFAS National Environment Protection Plan and in accordance with the EPA Landfill disposal criteria for PFAS-contaminated waste.

The EPA will make a decision on the application next year, after further geotechnical information has been submitted and is scientifically assessed.

Anyone who would like to be kept informed about the progress of the application should call tel: 8124 4216 or email.

The EPA issued the order after becoming aware of a potential leak in a stormwater lagoon at the plant just southwest of Penola.

It is not yet known whether groundwater on the site has been affected however the EPA is taking a cautious approach and has issued the EPO to provide greater regulatory control over the company’s remedial actions.

There is no evidence that pollutants have left the Katnook site. The levels of pollutants are low, and there is no public health risk.

However, integrity of lagoons is part of Adelaide Energy’s environmental licence, and its important that groundwater in the region is protected.

Adelaide Energy has taken action to repair the potential leak, with repairs due to be completed this month. The EPA has required the company to undertake 6 months of enhanced monitoring to check for any impacts to groundwater.

An EPO is a routine tool used by the EPA to maintain regulatory oversight of operators.

The Katnook Gas Plant was initially constructed by Origin Energy Resources Limited and started production in 1991. Production at the gas plant stopped in 2011, but it was refurbished and recommissioned in early 2020 to supply gas to industry in the South East.

The prohibition restricts the taking of groundwater via bores in shallow aquifers less than 18 m deep. Deeper uncontaminated aquifers are exempt from the prohibition.

Groundwater in shallow aquifers in portions of Keswick, Forestville, Ashford, Everard Park, Wayville and Mile End South has been significantly contaminated from historical industrial chemical use when past chemical handling instructions advised to tip used chemicals onto the ground.

Historically the area has hosted manufacturing and industrial activities, including white goods and vehicle manufacturing, electroplating, concrete and asphalt production, and printing.

As a result harmful chemicals have seeped into groundwater aquifers in the area, including petroleum and chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), metals and nitrates.

The EPA undertook a 90-day consultation period in relation to the GPA, and advised residents and landholders of the prohibition area which came into effect on 29 October 2020.

The prohibition area will protect current and future residents as groundwater from shallow aquifers in the area is not safe for drinking, washing, watering edible produce and lawns, or for use in swimming pools.

Anyone in the area found pumping water from bores in shallow aquifers less than 18 metres deep could face prosecution, and fines of up to $8,000 apply.

Residents in this area should only use rainwater or mains water for irrigation.

The prohibition does not apply to bores accessing water in deeper aquifers in the area.

For more information visit Engage EPA.

The assessment work comes after the EPA was notified that tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE) and other chemicals have been found in groundwater and soil vapour at the site of a former dying and dry cleaning business which was situated at 10–12 Marion Street.

Environmental consultants will drill and test groundwater and soil vapour bores on roads and in public areas in the assessment area which is bounded by Causeway Road, Mary, Deslandes and Hart streets.

A total of 34 households in the assessment area have been notified and the EPA will advise anyone who may be impacted as soon as test results become available.

If bore water is found to be contaminated, the EPA is likely to introduce a Groundwater Prohibition Area (GPA) in Ethelton to stop people accessing the contaminated water.

In the meantime, bore water from backyard pumps should not be used in the Ethelton area, but it is safe to eat produce grown in the area, as long as it has been watered with mains water or rainwater.

If the results from soil vapour testing indicate that there is potential for contaminated vapour to enter people’s homes, the EPA will seek permission from owners to test air vapour inside their homes.

Many areas in Adelaide are now known to be impacted from the legacy of poor historical chemical handling practices, due to past chemical leaks and spills, and the common practice of disposing of chemicals by tipping them onto the ground. We now know this may result in contaminated groundwater and contaminated soil vapour.

Ethelton residents who have concerns or require further information about the assessment work may phone 8463 4799 or email.

The dredging was undertaken by Flinders Ports in autumn last year to allow larger ships to access the port facilities. Flinders Ports was required to adhere to strict environmental conditions throughout the project and the EPA conducted further, independent monitoring of seagrass before, during and after the project.

The EPA’s monitoring included detailed assessment by EPA divers and reviewing underwater video footage. The results of this first post-dredging monitoring audit found there had been no adverse impact on seagrass at the monitored sites.

EPA Director of Science Keith Baldry said that the results were promising.

“Some seagrass loss in the area being directly dredged was inevitable, but in the wider zone of influence it is very pleasing that we have not identified any adverse impacts in our first post-dredging survey,” Mr Baldry said.

During the dredging program, Flinders Ports was required to comply with EPA licence conditions that specified steps that needed to be taken to reduce turbidity – a potential cause of seagrass loss – including stopping work when turbidity reached particular trigger levels.

Flinders Ports was also required to monitor seagrass condition before and after the dredging and to implement a dredging methodology to reduce the impact on marine life and seagrass.

“By using modern dredging practices and up-to-date science, the early indications are that environmental impacts have been minimised,” Mr Baldry said.

The EPA will undertake a further monitoring survey in 2021 to check that this continues and that there are no delayed impacts as a result of the dredging.

The EPA conducted the testing in September following the discovery of elevated concentrations of PFAS in soil, groundwater and sewage sludge near the former Port Adelaide wastewater treatment plant at West Lakes.

The area was also previously identified as having elevated metal concentrations, particularly cadmium.

While some PFAS compounds were found in the fish samples, they were not at concentrations that would trigger investigation under the Foods Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

The EPA also tested for heavy metals in the samples, because cadmium has been a concern in West Lake soils. Those results revealed that cadmium is not a problem, but lead was present at levels above the FSAMZ trigger point for investigation in the whole fish and mussels tested.  

As a result, SA Health has advised that fish fillets from West Lakes are safe to eat, but whole or macerated fish and mussels are not recommended for human consumption

In summary: 

• PFAS in fish and mussels from West Lakes were at levels considered safe for human consumption.
• Fish fillets from West Lakes are considered safe for consumption.
• The concentration of lead in whole fish and mussels was at levels considered unsafe for consumption.

The taking of mollusc, which includes mussels and all bivalve shellfish, has been banned for several decades in the waters of West Lakes under the Fisheries Management Act 2007.

Test results on water samples taken from West Lakes have confirmed that the lake is safe for recreational use

Reports on the test results

The messages are designed to let people know when water quality is not suitable for activities like swimming and surfing.

While beach water quality is usually very good off the Adelaide coast, it can drop when heavy rain flushes high volumes of stormwater into the sea.

These increased flows can result in discoloured or murky water at beaches that are near the mouths of rivers and drains.

SA Health recommends that people avoid contact with this turbid water for 72 hours after the stormwater has stopped flowing.

In the past, beach water quality alerts were issued for the whole metropolitan coast, but at the beginning of 2017, the EPA introduced an option allowing people to sign up for alerts for specific beaches in response to community feedback.

Individual alerts are now issued for Grange, Henley, Hallett Cove, Christies Beach, Noarlunga and Moana.

Sign up for beach alerts and for up-to-date information on beach water quality.

Within the waste and resource recovery industry, excessive stockpiles have been of concern to the EPA, community and industry. Stockpiling has the potential for levy avoidance and market distortion, through the indefinite holding of material without either recovering or selling the materials, or disposing of the material to landfill. Stockpiling can result in environmental harm, through stockpile fires and exposing the community to smoke and dust, as well as creating a financial liability for others if a site is abandoned.

Materials that can be stockpiled include soils, fill and overburden, construction and demolition waste, as well as timber, green waste, residual waste and industry by-products.

Under the Environment Protection Act 1993, the EPA has the power to impose stockpile limits and requires a financial assurance as a condition of authorisation. A financial assurance is a type of financial security that can be required by the EPA to prevent the cost of rehabilitation and clean-up being inappropriately transferred to third parties, including the state government and the community.

The new guideline has been developed in consultation with the waste and resource recovery sector, and covers key concepts that assist the EPA in making decisions to impose stockpile limits as a condition of authorisation as well as financial assurances, if required for high risk stockpiles of materials.

More information about Financial assurances and stockpiling.

As part of their new licensing conditions from 1 July 2020, Nyrstar was required to advise the EPA and the general public of target and reporting limit exceedances, as well as making plans and reports readily available.

By 3 July, Nyrstar had developed a community reporting and notification page within their website which links to a portal providing map-based pages for the monitoring of air quality sites.

The monitoring portal provides real time and daily average air quality data (dust levels, sulphur dioxide and lead-in-air levels) from various monitoring sites located within Port Pirie community.

Dams on 11 properties were tested for traces of the chemicals used in CCA-treated fencing and vineyard posts following the fire.

Waters were tested for the presence of chromium, copper and arsenic.

Green Industries SA were able to locate many CCA-treated pine stockpiles and mitigate surface water pollution.

Residents in catchment areas who thought their dams may have been contaminated through unidentified CCA-treated pine sources were able to have their water quality tested, at no cost, with the Department for Environment and Water funding analysis and the EPA providing technical advice to landowners.

All tests returned concentrations of copper, chromium and arsenic well below national guidelines for livestock water supply.

An Environment Improvement Plan requirement was placed on the SA Water Murray Bridge EPA licence in 2014 when the 1970s plant neared capacity, and risks to the River Murray identified from its existing output and odour impacts to neighbours.

The preferred solution was to relocate the WWTP to Brinkley, and construction of the new facility started in 2018.

When searching for the new location, considerations were made for odour management, water reuse opportunities, environment and heritage conservation, proximity to urban areas and cost.

The new site was chosen 10km south of Murray Bridge, on Pfieffer Road, opposite to the Brinkley Waste and Recycling Facility.

The 207 hectare site includes additional land for a buffer zone around the plant.

The new plant will process 4.6 million litres of wastewater per day, and is expected to serve the expanding community for many years to come.

The Brinkley plant will also utilise the latest in processing technology, with odour management systems throughout the site, and bio trickling and activated carbon tanks boasting a 99.95% removal efficiency.

As the new plant is brought online, the original site will be decommissioned.

Some of the newer equipment on the original site will be utilised for an upgrade of the network, with the remaining areas of the site to become part of the Murray Bridge community’s plans for the development of the riverbank.

Users accessing treated wastewater from SA Water for re-use will continue to receive this recycled water, with further opportunities expected as the new plant increases the network capacity.

The change comes following an incident involving septic tank sludge, also known as septage, being spread on farmland in a way that did not meet general environmental obligations.

Environment Protection Authority Director Regulation Peter Dolan said some landholders accepted septage as a soil improver, but if not applied in line with EPA guidelines, it could have adverse environmental impacts.

“Septage can be applied to land if it’s not practical to take it to a sludge-handling facility, or there simply isn’t one nearby,” he said. 

“If it is applied to land, it must be for the benefit of the soil, not simply for disposal.

“The updated guideline reflects changes to the Environment Protection Act 1993, under which the disposal of human wastewater or sewage to land is  a prescribed activity to be managed in accordance with the guidelines provided by the EPA.

“The guideline covers both the people who transport septage and landholders who accept it, and it makes everyone’s obligations clear.

“The EPA’s preference is for septage to be taken to an appropriately licensed facility, such as a wastewater treatment plant with a biosolids depot, but in cases where it is spread on land, this updated guideline will help  operators minimise the risk of adverse impacts on the surrounding land, water and air.”

The guideline provides better direction, certainty and consistency for all parties, with updated sections on obligations, land selection criteria, management of the application technique, and application rate.

It also helps industry meet its general environmental duty under the Environment Protection Act 1993 and promotes best practice management of septage transport and application.

In coming months the EPA will also be updating licence conditions for waste transporters who deal with septage.

For more information, read the EPA’s Septage management guideline (previously the Septic tank sludge management guideline)

The pilots undertook a Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved course to permit them to fly drones under commercial operating conditions.

Aerial photography and videography has become an invaluable tool for the EPA, Investigation Manager Stephen Barry said.

“To be able to view a site from up to 120m above ground level provides us with a much greater amount of documentable evidence,” he said.

“By adding another five pilots to the team of four existing pilots from various EPA fields our capacity to respond to and document investigations that require remote aerial imagery has been boosted greatly.”

The EPA now frequently uses drones in cases such as large-scale illegal dumping, where accessibility due to the size and contents of a site may make it difficult to document on foot.

Drones are also used to conduct aerial surveys of sites and stockpiles to verify the integrity of information provided to the EPA.

EPA Manager Investigations and Tactical Support Stephen Barry said contractors had completed the work and the site is now back to close to its former status.

“The management of this site over the years has been incredibly frustrating for the EPA and the local community, with the alleged illegal dumper repeatedly failing to comply with clean-up orders,” Mr Barry said.

“We are pleased to have been able to remove 248 truckloads of hazardous waste from the community, and will be doing everything in our power to recuperate the costs of this clean-up from the alleged offender.”

Mr Barry said the overall cost of the operation was substantial, but could not expand on the total due to legal proceedings being taken against a Port Adelaide-based demolition contractor who the EPA will allege is responsible for the illegal dumping.

“In total the contractors have safely removed 3,304.50 tonnes of hazardous waste and transported it to a specially lined cell at the licenced asbestos disposal area at the Cambrai Waste Depot.

“It is a great relief to finally have this material removed from the site, and we thank the residents and organisations in the Sedan area for their patience during the unforeseen delays,” Mr Barry said.

The EPA has continued to operate throughout the restrictions, adhering to social distancing requirements.

Our Emergency Response Teams, Community Engagement Officers, Authorised Officers, scientists and support staff have worked around the challenges and continued to operate.

We have been in regular contact with major licensees to check on their welfare and offer any support they may require.

Some aspects of our operations have been paused or restricted due to COVID-19, but our focus has remained on providing a better environment for the health, wellbeing and prosperity of all South Australians.

We will continue to adjust to the restrictions as they change, and provide the best level of service possible while social distancing requirements remain.

The policy provides the legal framework for the assessment of a wide range of noise issues, including domestic and non-domestic sources.

The Noise Policy discussion paper, which is now released for stakeholder　consultation, is the result of a review of the legislation and policies used in the regulation and management of noise in South Australia.

This review is being conducted for 2 reasons.

The first is to consider noise related issues that have been raised with the EPA in recent years.

The second is to make updates required as a result of the introduction of the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 2016 and the Planning Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, which have changed the way that noise and land use are managed in South Australia.

The Noise Policy will need amendment in order to align with these new pieces of legislation.

Consultation is open until 5pm Friday 17 July 2020.

At the conclusion of the consultation period, all comments will be considered and summarised in the form of a consultation report.

A revised Noise Policy (draft) will then be developed and released for further, broader consultation.

Please contact Ella Langford – 8204 2071 or via email for further information.​

The EPA Position Statement was developed with regard to feedback from industry representatives, and will provide clear direction for operators wishing to submit proposals to develop EfW activities.

EPA Chief Executive, Tony Circelli, said that the Position Statement is the latest in a series of initiatives by the EPA to support the development of new industries, support sustainable economic growth and create employment opportunities through pursuing circular economy outcomes in South Australia.

“The Position Statement is consistent with and helps achieve the resource recovery objectives set out by South Australia’s Waste Strategy 2015-2020,” he said.

Mr Circelli said: "The initiative aims to best address competing outcomes, firstly ensuring that EfW initiatives complements, and not competes with, the highly successful material reuse, recycling and recovery sector in South Australia, while providing the opportunity to further avoiding mixed waste material unnecessarily going to the landfill."

“We would like to thank all who have contributed their feedback and expertise to help form the framework.”

Full details of the Position Statement

In this edition we will bring you special messages from the founding and current Chief Executives and Presiding Members, reminiscing about the introduction of the EPA, and the conditions it began in on 1 May 1995, to the development of the organisation, its growth and leadership, and the ongoing commitment to provide a better environment for the health, wellbeing and prosperity of all South Australians.

1 May 2020 marks 25 years since the commencement of the Environment Protection Act 1993 in South Australia and the creation of the EPA as we know it today. While this anniversary milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the last 25 years, it also heralds the future.

More than ever, we recognise the value of a strong and effective environmental regulator as South Australian industries deal with recovery from recent bushfires and COVID-19. It is evident that we will be working on adapting to new ways of working and doing business. It is important that we have an effective, trusted environmental regulator that can help support and grow South Australian business while at the same time ensuring we protect the quality of our water, air and land. 

Importantly, we need an EPA that values working with people from across the community, recognising that the scale and complexity of the challenges often require a collaborative approach to deliver effective and sustainable outcomes.

We will be looking to a future where we will need to respond to the impacts of climate change, such as more frequent extreme weather events and the transition to renewable energy, whilst continuing to safeguard our community by managing the impacts of pollution in water and air, and deal with legacy contamination from past industry practices. We also look to play our part to drive a more circular and durable economy, including with the waste and resource recovery sector, where possible unlock the potential of former contaminated land for urban development, and continue to provide for more sustainable development in South Australia.

The EPA will continue to work with stakeholders and uphold its focus on being a high performing, effective and trusted regulator for the next 25 years and beyond.

On behalf of the EPA Board, I wish to thank all those stakeholders who have worked with us to uphold the objects of the Environment Protection Act and who have provided us with input and feedback over the years. I encourage you to reach out to the EPA for advice and assistance should you need it. I look forward to continuing our work to protect South Australia’s environment.

I recall well the steep learning curve the members of the first Board experienced. Fortunately, whilst the Authority did not then have direct control over the Department’s staff other than the few who reported direct to the Board, including Rob Thomas and Corinne Kelly, access was seamless. I was struck by the professionalism of the many highly qualified experts available to guide decisions on complex issues, as well as the Board members from diverse backgrounds who ensured that the decisions of the Board were greater than the sum of its individual parts.

I was also impressed by the guiding provision in the Environment Protection Act 1993 that in making its decisions, a precautionary approach was to be applied. This was significant. Thus, in making decisions, the burden of proof to be applied, whether in a civil or criminal context, regarding enforcement and in providing advice, was not only the balance of probabilities (civil) or beyond reasonable doubt (criminal), but tempered by the overriding statutory direction.

In the general community when addressing the effects of climate change, we so often hear the response from interested parties that ‘you can’t prove that it causes climate change’. By way of example, the debate about cigarettes was often that ‘you can’t prove they cause cancer’. Even today, some writers foster the view that ‘you can’t prove pollution is causing climate change’. Like the human body, the earth is a living, breathing body. Just as putting cigarette smoke into fragile human lungs was always, as a matter of common sense, a dangerous thing to do, so it is with the earth’s climate. Eventually, scientists proved that cigarettes caused cancer. As did fluorocarbons cause holes in the ozone layer. The smoke from the recent bushfires is still circling the planet. 

A precautionary directive is and was the most positive and important directive in the Act. It should become the guiding principle of Parliament in its legislative role. 

Stephen Walsh served as Chair of the EPA Board from 1995 to 2003

This stage will take in a further 362 properties to the northwest and west of the current testing, bringing the total sample size to 1,000 properties.

The EPA has been testing the Beverly area since 2015 for historically used chemicals from past manufacturing activities in the area.

Chemical traces in the area’s soil and groundwater (or bore water) include trichloroethene (TCE), with the EPA testing along the groundwater aquifers to see if a groundwater prohibition area (GPA) required for Beverley and Woodville South.

Acting Director Regulation Mr Andrew Pruszinski said groundwater in this area is contaminated and should not be used for any purpose (mains and rainwater is not affected).

“Chemicals are known to have affected groundwater in this area, making it unsuitable for use.”

“Home grown fruit and vegetables are safe to consume, provided they are not watered with groundwater,” Mr Pruszinski said.

Both the existing and new assessment area will also include testing for TCE vapour.

Residents may see the drilling and monitoring of bores on the road verges as part of the new testing.

More information is available by phoning (08) 8124 4216 or at Engage EPA website.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, community meetings are not possible, but residents can register their interest for an online community information session.

The sites, on Battens and Pipelines roads, were discovered after an EPA investigation with the assistance of SA Police, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and local government.

EPA Director Regulation Peter Dolan said the EPA had stepped in to remove the waste after the Port Adelaide-based demolition contractor alleged to have dumped the material failed comply with a clean-up order.

“We have engaged appropriately licensed contractors to carry out the work in order to protect the community and the environment,” Mr Dolan said.

“I can assure residents that the clean-up and transport operation is perfectly safe. Asbestos has to be inhaled to be hazardous to human health.

“This waste has been sprayed with glue, which prevents the escape of any exposed asbestos fibres and also works as a dust suppressant.

“It will be wrapped and transferred in covered trucks to a specially lined cell at the Cambrai Waste Depot, which is licensed to receive asbestos.

“Air quality monitoring is also being carried out at both sites while work is under way.”

Transporting the waste from Sedan to Cambrai is expected to take about a month, with trucks working between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday, plus Saturdays if required.

The EPA is in the process of preparing a brief for the Crown Solicitor, seeking criminal prosecution relating to the dumping of the waste and cost recovery for the clean-up.

EPA Manager for South East and Campaigns Naomi Grey said it was pleasing to see the greater majority of operators doing the right thing.

“The compliance of almost all of the surface coating sector shows that the industry is taking its responsibilities to protect the environment seriously,” Ms Grey said.

Surface coating, which includes metal finishing, hot-dip galvanising and spray painting or powder coating, are covered under Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Act 1993.

The primary risk to the environment from surface coating is the lack of appropriate bunding of chemicals and liquid waste, potentially resulting in soil and ground or stormwater contamination.

There is also a minor risk of noise and air pollution.

The EPA inspected 40 of the surface coating operators in late 2019.

Of the 520 total licence conditions carried across the sites, 28 breaches of licence conditions were found, with 13 facilities committing multiple breaches.

Of the identified breaches found, almost half were due to the improper storage of liquid waste, with 50% of those due to a lack of appropriate bunding.

“We will continue to monitor and work with operators who were found to have breached the regulations to ensure that they can operate effectively within the EP Act regulations, noting that these are difficult times for the industry during COVID-19 restrictions,” Ms Grey said.

SA Surface Coating Sector Compliance results

Smoke from fires and other sources of pollution raises the concentration of fine particles in the air, and can result in health problems, especially for children, older people and those living with respiratory diseases like asthma.

This graph shows spikes associated with smoke from the bushfires on Yorke Peninsula, Cudlee Creek, and Kangaroo Island, and even from those interstate, plotted against data from the previous five years.

These spikes represent several instances when concentrations of PM 2.5 particles exceeded the national standard of 25 micrograms/m³, and others where levels were not hazardous, but resulted in visible smoke haze across Adelaide and regional parts of the state.

The EPA has been undertaking monitoring work since March 2019 near a site that was used to manufacture tin cans between 1940 and 1984.

Groundwater near the site, at 24 Murray Street, is known to be contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) from historical industrial chemical use. TCE was used for metal cleaning and historic handling instructions were to tip it out onto the ground.

On 12 September 2019 the EPA established a groundwater prohibition area to protect current and future residents from contaminated groundwater in parts of Hendon, Royal Park, Seaton and Albert Park. Residents are reminded that bore water should not be used for any purpose.

Albert ParkThe EPA recently received results from a second stage of soil vapour sampling in the area and the next step will be looking at whether TCE has entered residential indoor air as vapour at the 6 properties.

In the rare instance that a home is affected by vapour contamination, the EPA works with residents to manage any potential health risk.

For more information visit Albert Park update.

The complaint states that between 31 January and 3 February 2019 the company polluted the environment by discharging, or failing to prevent the discharge of, about 700 litres of sulfuric acid from its site into First Creek at Port Pirie.

Potential environmental harm was caused by polluting the environment and creating harmful conditions for fish and other plant and animal life in the creek.

The offence is covered by section 79(2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1993.

The health and welfare of employees, stakeholders and community is the EPA’s priority. While the way work is carried out may change, the focus remains on providing support and guidance to industry and the community. This will help ensure that businesses can continue to operate within the Government’s social distancing requirements and to keep the environment and the community safe.

Many EPA staff are working from home. They will continue to be available by email and phone, and will also seek alternative solutions for face-to-face meetings where possible. This might include invitations to take part in meetings via video or teleconferencing.

Responses to some enquiries might take longer than usual while the most urgent and important matters are prioritised.

It is critical that the EPA’s contact with licensees continues to be effective during this time. Licensees are encouraged to contact the EPA early if they have any emerging or urgent issues or risks.

Licensees are also encouraged to continue to engage with neighbours and communities. There are many options available to stay connected, including digital platforms. The EPA’s community engagement team is available to assist with advice.

The EPA can be contacted via email or 24/7 on 08 8204 20​04 and will continue to provide updates on the EPA website.

Industry experts found that it had deteriorated to the point where recycling was no longer a viable option, as the paper and cardboard were breaking down.

The EPA required KordaMentha, the receivers for failed recycling company SKM, to carry out extensive investigations into how the material might be dealt with before the decision was reached.

SKM baled together paper, plastic, aluminium and broken glass – plus the inevitable contaminants found in yellow bins – then shipped the material interstate to specialised processing centres.

Unfortunately, there is currently no technology available in South Australia to manage the bales.

It will now be sent to Inkerman, north of Adelaide, and stored in a separate section of a landfill cell. If the technology becomes available in the future to process the material, it can be recovered.

Sending the waste to Inkerman will allow the owners of the shipping containers to reclaim their property after many months of not receiving any rent.

The Environment Protection Act was updated in 2018 to give the EPA stronger powers to require financial assurances from waste companies to guard against excessive stockpiling and abandonment, similar to cases seen interstate.

The EPA has received applications for 661 petrol stations across the state.

Petrol stations were added to the list of activities of environmental significance requiring a licence because of the ongoing cost of soil and groundwater contamination caused by leaking storage tanks.

While standard licence conditions now apply to all petrol station sites, fees depend on annual turnover, with small and mid-tier operators paying less than those selling large volumes of fuel.

If you are a service station operator and have not yet applied for your licence, please email or call (08) 8204 2058.

There are several professional, accredited laboratories that can test groundwater for a fee.

Metropolitan Adelaide has a long history of industry and manufacturing, and in the past chemical handling procedures were not as robust as they are today.

Dry cleaners, foundries, metal processors, timber processing plants, airports, landfills, refrigeration factories, petrol stations and fuel stores have all been associated with groundwater contamination.

Over the years, chemicals like hydrocarbons, heavy metals, nitrates, pesticides, and PFAS from firefighting foams have leached into the soil in some areas, and some of these, like TCE and PCE, are associated with serious human health risks.

While bore water in Adelaide tends to be used for garden irrigation or filling pools, this is enough to bring people into contact with hazardous chemicals.

Residents in a number of areas have been asked not to use their bore water for any reason, but it’s important to remember that undetected contamination may also exist. 

Aquifers are extremely difficult to clean up, so once groundwater is contaminated, it is likely to remain so for many years.

If you have ever been told not to use your bore water, you should not start to use it again unless it has been tested and confirmed to be safe.

Mains water and rainwater are safe to use in areas where bore water use has been prohibited.

More information on site contamination and bore water.

More information on current assessment areas and groundwater prohibition areas.

Fluorinated foams contain PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkalyl substances, which have also been used in a range of everyday domestic products including non-stick cookware, fabric stain protectors, and food packaging.

South Australia was the first state to ban PFAS in firefighting foams, announcing the change on 30 January 2018.

Industry was granted a two-year grace period to help it meet the requirements of the ban.

Seven sites, including large fuel stores and defence facilities, have applied for exemptions for an initial period of three years. Six have been granted, and the seventh is currently being processed.

The transition to fluorine-free firefighting foams can be a complex one at large sites, as they can have kilometres of piping to clean out or replace, and safety must not be compromised during the changeover.

The EPA is satisfied that if the sites are operated and managed in accordance with the conditions of the exemptions, it is unlikely environmental harm could occur.

All operators who were granted exemptions were required to enter into an EIP with agreed milestones to ensure the transition progresses.

The EPA received a report in June 2019 that a man had been approaching locals looking for scrap metal to use in artificial reefs.

The man was believed to be launching his boat from the Port Davis boat ramp near Port Pirie, leading EPA investigators to begin a two-month surveillance operation.

Investigators identified the boat, then located two disposal sites about 6km offshore, in 8m of water.

The boat owner initially denied being involved in artificial reef creation, but when he was shown photographs of his boat filled with old television aerials, he admitted to disposing of litter in marine waters.

He was issued with a notice to remove and appropriately dispose of the scrap metal at his own cost by 17 January, and has complied with this.

The fine is a timely reminder to fishers that creating private reefs is punishable under the law.

Material like this breaks down over time, contributing to pollution and creating hazards for other boaties.

Information from the public is invaluable in uncovering illegal reef building, and with new technology, the EPA can carry out on- and offshore surveillance to find those responsible.

If you have any information about illegal reef building in South Australia, please call the EPA on 8204 2004. You can remain anonymous.

Stewart Morgan, 38, of Murray Bridge East, was fined a total of $29,000 in the Environment, Resources and Development Court.

Mr Morgan pled guilty to causing environmental harm to the Tobalong Wetland, failing to comply with the requirements of an EPA clean-up order, filling land in a flood zone without development approval, and failing to remove the fill when directed by the Rural City of Murray Bridge.

Tobalong is one of the last remaining wetlands between Mannum and Wellington, and plays an important role in the health of the river, as well as providing vital habitat for water birds and a range of aquatic life.

Mr Morgan was fined $11,000 for causing environmental harm, $4,000 for failing to comply with the EPA clean-up order, $9,000 for filling land in a flood zone and $2,000 for not removing the fill, plus $2,200 in prosecution costs and $960 for the Victims of Crime Levy.

He will have to comply with the terms of the clean-up order by removing the fill and revegetating the land as wetland habitat. The EPA will also seek reimbursement of its costs of $45,000 for engaging experts to assess the damage to the site.

In December 2015, Mr Morgan’s company, SA Morgan Pty Ltd, bought a property on Jervois Road, White Sands, which included part of the western section of the wetland.

Between 22 and 26 February 2016, he excavated a road to improve access to the river, dumping the soil into the wetland, which was dry at the time but vegetated with reeds.

EPA officers attended the site after a report from a member of the public, and ordered Mr Morgan to stop work. He had already spread between 2,000 and 5,400 tonnes of soil, smothering more than 6,000m² of floodplain to depths of between 50cm and 1m.

Experts described the affected area as being highly disturbed, degraded and compacted, and said there had been a negative impact on native fauna and flora, and local waters.

The EPA issued a clean-up order requiring Mr Morgan to engage an environmental consultant, remove the soil and restore the site to wetland habitat, and the Rural City of Murray Bridge also required him to remove the fill.

He did not comply with either order, instead proposing to leave the fill in place and revegetate the area with terrestrial plants.

Anyone planning to spread fill or undertake works on a river property should seek advice from their local council before beginning work.

EPA staff attended the State Emergency Centre on a daily basis while the fires were active, are part of the State Recovery Operations Group, attend Local Recovery Group meetings and local community meetings in the Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Island fire grounds, and have staff assisting on a regular basis at the Local Recovery Centres.

They are also working with the fire-affected areas of Keilira and Yorktown, as well as Port Lincoln following the recent flooding.

The Solid Waste Levy has been waived for people affected by the fires on Kangaroo Island, and in Cudlee Creek, Yorktown and Gawler in order to reduce the cost of disposing of large amounts of burnt material.

Water experts have provided advice on a range of issues, including appropriate locations for burial pits for dead wildlife and stock in order to prevent contamination of ground and surface water, and potential contamination of dam and river water due to fire ash.

The EPA has also been providing advice Green Industries SA on waste issues, including the disposal of asbestos and CCA-treated timber, and with SA Health and the Bureau of Meteorology on air quality messaging relating to bushfire smoke.

Read more on disposing of bushfire waste, including government-funded waste removal.