Category: Archive

The Australian Defence Force is planning to undertake a major joint training exercise in partnership with the US Armed Forces, known as Talisman Sober 2007.

Exercises use Qld, NT sites: The exercise will be conducted primarily at Shoalwater Bay Training Area and at various other locations within Queensland, Northern Territory and the Coral, Timor and Tasman Seas in June 2007.

Report seeks to minimise environmental problems: On behalf of Defence a Public Environment Report (PER) has been developed for Talisman Sober 2007 as part of an environmental impact assessment process. The PER identifies potential environmental issues associated with the conduct of the exercise and documents strategies used to ensure these impacts are minimised.

Report open to public: The PER is a public document and will be on exhibition and available for review by the community from 12 October 2006 to 13 November 2006.

Speak out before 13 November: Defence and Maunsell invite you to view the Public Environment Report and submit your comments and suggestions to the Maunsell project team, on or before 13 November 2006. Details of where to send your comments will be provided on the website, and at the listed libraries and information days.

Public comment sought: Maunsell invite the public to attend the community information sessions in Townsville and Rockhampton to discuss environmental issues associated with the exercise with representatives from Maunsell and Defence.

Info sessions: The information sessions will be held at: Townsville: 18th October 2006 4:00 pm – 8:00pm Conference Room, Central City Motel, 164 Stanley Street
Rockhampton: 19th October 2006 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Reception Room at Rockhampton City Council – City Hall, 232 Bolsover Street.

Reference: Report online: The report is available online via http://www.maunsell.com/MarketsAndServices/39/96/index.jsp, or is available in printed publication in the following libraries: Livingstone Shire Council, 70 Anzac Parade, Yeppoon Qld 4703

Erisk Net 11 October 2006

Erisk Net, 11/10/2006

In a landmark dispute, the developer of an inner Melbourne apartment building, Premier Building and Consulting (PBC), is suing 10 defendants, including Spotless Group, one of Australia’s largest cleaning companies, for an estimated $12 million over alleged contamination of the site, reported The Australian (10/10/2006, p.19).

Dry cleaner next door 20 years: PBC claims a dry-cleaning business run by Spotless for more than 20 years contaminated the site at 227 Barkly St, Brunswick, on which it built 49 new apartments. Moreland Council issued a planning permit to PBC on April 24, 2001.

Environment audit blocks occupancy: But on completion in June 2003, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) advised the council to withhold an occupancy permit after an environment audit revealed the apartments had been built on contaminated soil and posed a health risk.

Clean-up estimated at $6m: A building and environment industry source estimates the cost of cleaning up the site and making it safe for residential occupancy at $6 million."That’s before the cost of refurbishing the apartments is even taken into account," he says.

50 similar operations nationwide: Spotless is understood to have operated about 50 dry-cleaning sites around the country, and if similar clean-up costs were incurred at every one, the company could be out of pocket by as much as $300 million, the source said.

Seepage traced to laundry site: A Canadian expert in hydrogeology, Professor Bernard Cooper, has told the Victorian Supreme Court the problems caused below the ground at the site are a direct result of Spotless operations above the ground. PBC alleges that seepage from the site at 225 Barkly Street contaminated the soil next door at 227.

Spotless’ record recounted: The case is expected to run for 10 weeks before Justice David Byrne. Counsel for PBC, Julian Burnside QC, has told the court that "for many years Spotless carried on business as dry cleaners and launderers at 225 Barkly Street" and "for a time" the company also conducted dry-cleaning operations at 227-231.

Firm adopted PCE solvent: In the late 1970s, a new machine which used "not white spirit for dry cleaning but perchloroethene (PCE), which is the chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent", had been introduced into the dry-cleaning process. "Dry cleaning for years had used white spirit until PCE supplanted it as the solvent of choice," Mr Burnside said.

Fluid in underground tanks: The court heard the property at 225 Barkly Street had large underground storage tanks for containing white spirit and white spirit waste. "By October 1966 there were 130 employees engaged in dry cleaning at 225 Barkly street," Mr Burnside said. "So it was a big operation."

The Australian, 10/10/2006, p. 19

Source: Erisk Net  

Malaysia warned of low visibility in the Straits of Malacca as the smoke haze from forest fires spread over parts of the country, reaching unhealthy levels in Melaka and southern Johor state, reported The Australian Financial Review (10/10/2006 p.12).

Shipping hazard alert: "Low visibility of less than five kilometres occurring over the Straits of Malacca and coastal waters of Sarawak due to haze is expected to continue till Thursday, October 12," the Meteorological Services Department said. "This situation is hazardous to ships without navigational equipment."

Health risk in six locations: The air pollutant index had reached "unhealthy" levels in six places in Malaysia, including Melaka town, a popular tourist destination on the west coast of the Malay peninsula, two towns on the east coast and three towns in southern Johor state, according to a statement from the Department of Environment.

Fires blamed on land clearing: Smoke from forest fires in Malaysia and Indonesia clouded the region annually during the dry season from around July to October as farmers clear land for cultivation by setting fire to trees and bushes. The worst haze occurred in 1997 and 1998, causing economic losses of almost $US9 billion in South-East Asia as travellers shunned the region and health-care costs increased.

KL airport visibility down to 500m: Visibility was reduced to as low as 500 metres yesterday morning in Sepang, where the Kuala Lumpur International Airport is located, south of the capital. Visibility later improved to two kilometres, according to the Meteorological Services Department.

The Australian Financial Review, 10/10/2006, p. 12

Source: Erisk Net