A state decision to not ban toxic chemicals, despite cancer links, has been slammed in Wagga.
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It comes after the Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said NSW would not follow South Australia and Queensland in prohibiting a group of chemicals containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, more commonly referred to as PFAS.
The Environment Minister said the state government had been doing a lot of work when it came to PFAS, but conceded a decision to ban PFAS was a federal decision.
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Wagga councillor Paul Funnell on Wednesday labelled the decision a “gutless cop out”, leaving him “flabbergasted”.
It follows the discovery of PFAS outside of RAAF Base Wagga in 2016, dating back to the use of a legacy firefighting foam, containing the highly-persistent chemicals.
A Department of Defence report released in early June, revealed the pollutant had migrated through the storm water drains at Forest Hill, seeping into the surface and ground water at the Gumly Gumly wetlands.
Despite NSW Health claiming “no consistent evidence” could prove PFAS exposure affected human health, the US Environmental Protection Agency said it could “cause immune dysfunction, hormonal interference and certain types of cancer”.
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“For a decision to be made not to ban a known carcinogenic, that is making people sick … I’m speechless,” Cr Funnell said.
“And that’s unusual for me.”
Having previously shared his concerns about the contamination of the water table, Cr Funnell said the risk was very real, with the city’s drinking water bores located mere kilometres from where the toxic substances were detected at levels higher than safe drinking and agriculture standards.
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“If it is an activity that takes place in the state, the state can legislate on it,” Cr Funnell said.
“It is not just a federal issue … what a load of garbage.”
Once the water table is contaminated, we can't fix it.
- Paul Funnell
Cr Funnell said it was hypocritical for the NSW government to deny accountability, while launching an inquiry into the use of asbestos in the Blue Mountains at the same time.
“It’s the same thing isn’t it,” Mr Funnell said.
“Once the water table is contaminated, we can’t fix it.
“It’s not about being green. It’s about the survival of the human race.”
Wagga’s state MP and federal MP were contacted for a response but were unavailable for comment before print deadline.
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