NSW: Toxic Homebush Bay site to be cleaned

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2000
NSW: Toxic Homebush Bay site to be cleaned

The New South Wales government says tonnes of contaminated soil near Olympic Park will
be heated in special ovens in a massive clean-up of the site next year.

Transport Minister CARL SCULLY says negotiations are underway with Trafalgar Corporate
and Theiss Environmental Services to allow work to start early in the new year.

He says the 16 hectare site -- just over two kilometres from Olympic Park -- is one
of the most polluted places in Australia.

Mr SCULLY says the former Union Carbide and Allied Feed site will eventually be redeveloped
for housing and other uses at an estimated cost of $90 million.

The state government will provide $21 million for the project.

Clean-up of the estimated 500,000 cubic metres of soil will be the largest environmental
decontamination project of its kind in Australia.

The contaminant will be transported to Queensland before being destroyed by a super
heating process called plasma blasting.

AAP RTV tdw/sb/nf/jtb

KEYWORD: OLY TOXIC (SYDNEY)

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