Thousands of tonnes of toxic sludge containing cancer-causing chemicals is set to be dug up from the bed of Sydney Harbour, under plans for the Western Harbour Tunnel that one of the state’s leading contamination experts fears do not protect the public, including fishermen and families who swim in harbour pools.
Past studies have shown the tracts of sediment are among the most contaminated in the world - worse than Tokyo Bay or New York Harbour. The harbour would be crossed using two pre-fabricated tube tunnels, lowered onto the sea floor between Birchgrove and Waverton. An excavator with a sealed "clamshell" bucket would be used to scoop up sediment, while shallow silt curtains would be installed to prevent its spread in the top two to three metres of water.
The proposed method was selected after "extensive" modelling and was a "proven approach ... used on various completed projects in Sydney Harbour" He held serious concerns the "clamshell" bucket would malfunction if it encountered rocks or other objects on the sea floor. "The EIS provides no details of the methods used to treat the sediments at White Bay and dispose of the contaminated wastewater," Dr Ryall said. "The costs may be in excess of $100 million".
carriefellner Secrecy is the order of the day for GladysB government
carriefellner I’m sorry but the Harbour belongs to everyone- not commercial alone - release the report. People need to know what has happened good or bad. Then moving forward not repeat the bad habits and avoid toxic contamination again!
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