Last night I went to the rally against the Toxic Waste being dumped at Kemps Creek – or at least, the Toxic Waste that is planned to be dumped at Kemps Creek. Apparently, this 5,500 tons of soil is being moved from Hunter’s Hill, where it has been linked to the development of some cancer cells, and at least one court case that has led to financial damages being paid, to the SITA site at Kemps Creek, where it will be stored until it is safe – the piddling matter of 300 years or so.
Apparently, the original idea was the Labor governments – in the dark days before the last state election, there was a plan made to establish a radioactive waste dump there. According to Labor, this idea was abandoned – there was bipartisan support for coming up with other solutions. Of course, 2013 rolls around, and suddenly the Liberal-National coalition have decided to start the plan up again – Tanya Davies, despite protesting against it in 2011, is now in support of the plan. At least, she appears to be – she – and Barry O’Farrell, the Premier and Minister for Western Sydney – are notably absent on this issue. Needless to say, none of them showed at the meeting last night.
Apparently, the waste being moved is perfectly safe. Davies has said that ‘it’s no more radioactive than a banana.’ If that’s the case, then why, I ask, does it need to be monitored for more than 300 years? And if it’s not dangerous, why can’t it stay in Hunter’s Hill.
There are unanswered questions here, and someone is going to end up paying. I’d hate to see Western Sydney become the dumping ground for the rest of Sydney.