Pasminco Administrator Attempts to Avoid Containment Commitment

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE AND MADELAINE MCNEILL

The administrator of the former Pasminco Smelter at Boolaroo is applying to the Department of Planning and Environment to water-down their commitment to monitor a lead containment cell.

Corporate recovery firm Ferrier Hodgson is hoping to remove a Department of Planning stipulation tying them to the future monitoring of contamination at the site.

The company claims it can't afford to pay for the monitoring unless the land is sold off to furniture giant IKEA for $22-million-dollars.

Lake Macquarie MP and chair of the Lead Expert Working Group, Greg Piper, says the application is concerning but the Department won't easily allow a weakening of monitoring.

Community members believe the application represents a shirking of environmental responsibility, and Jim Sullivan from the Boolaroo Action Group says he's worried about who'll foot the bill in future.

The former Pasminco smelter. Image: Newcastle Herald

Funding for lead contamination in Lake Macquarie

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW State Government have committed to providing $800,000 in funding over four years to help manage legacy contamination issues caused by the former Pasminco lead and zinc smelter in Boolaroo.

The smelter closed in 2003, leaving behind toxic pollution for surrounding residents who reported having levels of lead in soil significantly higher than the national health guidelines.

The funding follows the NSW Government's decision in late 2017 to adopt all 22 recommendations of the Lead Expert Working Group (LEWG) on managing residual lead contamination.

The LEWG was established by the Environmental Protection Authority in 2014 and handed down its report in December 2016.

Boolaroo Action Group spokesman Jim Sullivan said he welcomed the funding but fears it will be wasted on administrative fees.

"The things that the community have got to be aware of, is that we do not want to see this funding of eight hundred thousand being gobbled up by administrative charges at the Environmental Protection Authority and the local council yet again.

"They have not had a really good track record of managing this issue, and they have failed the community in northern Lake Macquarie and they have also failed the community of Williamtown.We do not want to see any more failures and we need to be part of the administration of that money to ensure that it goes to the right places," Mr Sullivan said. 

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said she is pleased to see the funding made available.

"We look forward to working collaboratively with the Government to implement the recommendations and we are grateful to both the Lead Expert Working Group and the Lake Macquarie Community Reference Group for their work in this process over the last four years," Cr Fraser said.

The site of the former Pasminco lead and zinc smelter.
Photo: The Newcastle Herald

The Missing Link For Munibung Road

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The missing link on Munibung Road is right around the corner with construction on the 820 metre stretch of the road set to start in the new year.

Lake Macquarie Council has called for tender submissions to find a contractor for the job which will greatly improve the link between Boolaroo and Cardiff.

Mayor Kay Fraser says it's time the area went back to the boom it once was.

Mayor Kay Fraser, Adam Wakeman and Tony Farrell from the council.

"Obviously it was a huge employment generating area so we're wanting to put back what was there so hence the reason to built the road so we can have the employment generating businesses back in there,"

"We've set the money aside and we actually got some money from the government and that's to open up the old Pasminco land so that will release all of that land and great opportunities for residential and also for economic development," said Mayor Fraser.

The extension runs through the former Pasminco smelter site, and the council hopes the former site will again become a booming economic area like it once was.

The link is also crucial to the development of the Lake Macquarie Transport interchange linking the suburbs.

"Residents travelling in that area, that will cut down on their travel time and it's also another new access for business using that route so tenders will close and we'll probably assess them early in the year and then start building that road," said Mayor Fraser.

Tender applications are open until January 23 next year.

Missing link between Boolaroo and Cardiff

BY DANIELLE REIS and JESSICA ROUSE

The extension of Munibung Road has been a long time coming and now the missing link is finally a reality.

Lake Macquarie City Council is welcoming $2.2 million from the Federal Government to extend Munibung Road and connect Boolaroo to Cardiff, cutting around 11 minutes off the current round trip.

Lake Mayor Kay Fraser says new 700 metre extension will provide an important transport link for motorists.

"We're very excited for the council to receive this from the federal government - we have already set aside the other half of the money that's needed so what we will be able to do now is connect Munnibung Road which will run into Cardiff and connect to Boolaroo."

Earlier this year council set aside $2.9 million towards the extension.

"We've already started the planning of the new road, I'm hopeful that we will continue with that planning and we'll start very soon. It's very exciting that we can finally deliver this important infrastructure to Lake Macquarie and to the residents in the area," said Kay Fraser.

Alleged thief caught after break in on The Esplanade

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An alleged thief will face Newcastle Local Court today after he was charged with breaking into a shop in Warners Bay.

A shop along The Esplanade was broken into early on Sunday morning with an amount of cash and watches were stolen.

The incident was reported to police who launched an investigation leading them to a house in Boolaroo yesterday morning.

Police attached to the Lake Macquarie Property Crime Reduction Team executed a search warrant at the Sixth Street address and seized a number of items.

A 47-year-old man was arrested at the scene and charged with break, enter and steal, goods in custody and custody of a knife in a public place.

He was refused bail and appears in court today.