Future Sooner questions EPA statement on health of Lake Macquarie

Future Sooner has challenged an announcement from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that it has “reassuring results” for the health of Lake Macquarie and that the “latest results demonstrate current regulations are delivering effective safeguards”.

“Forgive us for being sceptical, but the EPA has known about the contamination in Lake Macquarie and the Tuggerah Lakes System for decades,” spokesperson Gary Blaschke said.

“It has been over four years since the Coal Ash Inquiry delivered its report (March 2021).

“Suddenly the EPA tells us everything is now fine even before the court has brought down its findings on the recent fish kills.

“The issue of gases bubbling to the surface appears to have miraculously disappeared, yet coal mines still operate under the lake. 

“Why wasn’t Lake Munmorah included in the testing?

“This is where the EPA has already classified the land as ‘significantly contaminated’.

“Yet it has consistently ignored the community evidence and has not undertaken any form of investigation into the presence of PFAS in the lake.

“The big question is what exactly did the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) test for?”

Blaschke said while environmental DNA (eDNA) may determine the environmental health of the lake, human health was also a factor.  

“Did the EPA’s testing include heavy metals such as cadmium and selenium that is toxic to both humans and the environment?” he said.

“The DCCEEW report omits any mention of the human health impacts, something Future Sooner has championed since its inception and in its meetings with the United Nations, EPA, the recent Citizens Inquiry and the Final Report.

“While we celebrate any good news that demonstrates an improvement in the quality of the marine and land environment, the fact remains that the power stations are still operating, and the health impacts continue.

“In its media release the EPA merely states that its scientists used ‘cutting edge techniques, like eDNA.

“Can we confirm what techniques the scientists actually did use and what exactly they included in their testing?

“Given the lack of detail, Future Sooner requests access to all data from the DCCEEW testing, including information on what was tested and confirmation of what techniques the scientists used in those tests.

“Future Sooner has shared all its evidence with the government and its departments including the EPA (and asks) the EPA do the same.”