• Williamstown, Altona, Laverton Star

By Nicole Precel

9th March 2010 11:05:44 AM

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BUREAUCRATIC bungling has left Brooklyn residents in the dark over health risks associated with airborne dust.

Almost a month after the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) released its preliminary report that showed airborne dust particles were more than double the national safety standard, residents have not been officially informed of the report or potential health risks.

The EPA told Star it was the Department of Health’s responsibility to properly notify residents of the potential health risks. But in response to Star’s inquiries, the Department of Health told Star it was the EPA’s responsibility.

EPA Victoria senior manager Matt Vincent said the EPA had advised residents at a meeting and through local newspapers that monitoring had shown dust levels had spiked on 13 out of 100 days in Brooklyn.

“The levels of dust being at concentrations that can potentially cause health issues in children, the elderly or those with pre-existing respiratory conditions,” he said.

Department of Health indicated there was increased risk on hot dry days with west and north westerly winds and residents should avoid outdoor activity, or keep it as brief as possible on those days.

But bureaucratic buck-passing has meant residents in the affected areas have not been officially informed.

Hobsons Bay City councillor Michael Raffoul passed a motion at last week’s council meeting to push the EPA to write to all homes in Brooklyn, informing them of the preliminary results of the dust monitoring program and what to do to minimise health risks.

The EPA told Star it was the Department of Health’s responsibility to properly notify residents of the potential health risks, but Department of Health denied the charges.

The EPA finally told Star: “EPA is currently determining the best way to communicate with residents and this will include the relevant health department advice.”

Hobsons Bay councillor Michael Raffoul confirmed that residents could expect a letter from the EPA in the near future, advising of precautions that should be taken on hazardous days.

Cr Raffoul said that residents wanted action and the council echoed the EPA’s calls for industry to take immediate action to high dust levels in Brooklyn.

“Corporations law does not shield company directors from liability,” Cr Raffoul said.

“If there is evidence of wrongdoing, we support the EPA in taking strong legal action against the companies and their directors responsible for creating this pollution,” he said.

He said the council was working with the EPA and meeting fortnightly with the cities of Brimbank and Maribyrnong to tackle the issues head-on.

He said the council was supporting the compliance effort by providing trained staff to assist in evidence gathering in conjunction with those councils.

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