Local residents are said to have raised their concern over mercury contamination at the December 2012 meeting of the Community Liaison Committee and have pushed for the New South Wales (NSW) Government to carry out independent mercury testing outside Orica’s Botany Industrial Park plant.
The former ChlorAlkali Plant, which operated between 1945 and 2002 using mercury cell technology, has been dubbed by mercury expert, Andrew Helps, as “a very serious problem”. Mr Helps told ABC News that toxic waste from the plant has been unaccounted for and ignored in Orica’s reports and is contaminating an estuary nearby.
Orica has responded to the claims stating that it will continue to monitor the mercury at the Botany Industry Park boundary and on site as is required by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
It says all results over the past year have been below the NSW EPA action levels and its current data confirms that the former ChlorAlkali Plant presents no health risk to local residents.
The company also says it is working with the NSW EPA, and in consultation with the local community, to develop remediation plans for the site.