Australia’s greenest council is being investigated for allegedly stockpiling and burning toxic material without approval.
The Department of Environment and Science (DES) confirmed to sunshinecoastnews.com.au that Noosa Council was the subject of an “ongoing investigation’’ that could see it fined $3 million if found guilty.
A DES spokesperson said the investigation concerned Noosa Council’s “alleged stockpiling and burning of treated timber and green waste and burying of ash at Pomona without appropriate permits’’.
Council workers allegedly gathered redundant CCA-treated timber, commonly used in outdoor construction including fences, retaining walls, bollards and park equipment, and burnt it at its depot off Yurol Forest Drive at Pomona. There are homes about 1km away.
Copper chrome arsenate (CCA) treated timber is wood that has been treated with a preservative containing copper, chromium and the poison arsenic.
The CSIRO outlines that it is safe unless ingested or burnt. It advises caution and breathing apparatus for those near fires that contain the treated timber because of the toxic gas it emits.
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The DES spokesperson said that department investigators had inspected the Pomona depot and met with Noosa Council officers regarding the alleged breaches.
“Council has engaged a suitably qualified external party to oversee the removal of all waste timber material and ash from the depot at Pomona to a facility that is licensed to receive it,’’ the spokesperson said.
“The maximum penalty for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity without a permit for an individual is $600,525 and for a corporation is $3,002,625.’’
Noosa Council’s Infrastructure Services Director, Carl Billingham, said Council was fully co-operating with the Department of Environment and Science, which was investigating the matter in response to a complaint.
“Council staff had obtained a fire permit from QFES before carrying out the burn-off at the Council facility in Pomona,” Mr Billingham said.
“The DES investigation is still under way and we await further advice as to the outcome,” he said.
Noosa Council did not respond to a question about how much it would cost ratepayers to engage the independent contractor to clean up the site and remove material, including ash, and dispose of it at an appropriate facility.
Noosa Council has a long and proud history when it comes to the environment.
The council’s website says it works closely with community groups and landholders to ensure the protection and enhancement of the area’s beautiful natural environment.
More than 40 years of the Noosa community working together to live sustainably with the natural environment was recognised in 2007 with designation of the Noosa Biosphere® Reserve under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MaB) program.
CCA DANGERS:
Health authorities say the main concern with CCA-treated timber is that it contains arsenic, which can be extremely dangerous when ingested or inhaled (when CCA-treated timber is burnt). Over time, small amounts of chemicals may also leach from the product. Government guidelines show CCA-treated timber should not be used to build children’s play equipment, patios, domestic decking, handrails, new garden furniture, exterior seating or picnic tables.
