Latest news with #BruceReynolds
ABC News
2 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Ratepayers will likely cover PFAS contamination costs, Blayney mayor says
A New South Wales mayor says forcing councils to clean up PFAS contamination at landfill sites is "completely at odds with the 'polluter pays' principle". Last year the Belubula River, which flows through the Central West region, was found to be tainted by PFAS chemicals. Blayney Shire Council's landfill sits above a tributary to the river and studies by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) show the site is a source of PFAS contamination in the Belubula. In March the EPA told the council it would have to pay to fix the problem. "We're being charged to remove contamination for what is still a legal product here in Australia," Mayor Bruce Reynolds said. Waste facilities are known to be a significant secondary source of PFAS, which is a family of about 15,000 chemicals with heat-resistant, non-stick and waterproof properties. They can take hundreds of years to break down and are highly mobile in the environment. The cost of onsite treatment at the Blayney tip, which has been operating for 100 years, has been estimated at more than $400,000 and the cost of ongoing investigation and monitoring estimated at more than $110,000. The council has also been forced to stop using a part of the landfill that has an unlined cell. It estimates the cost of bringing the infrastructure up to EPA standards could exceed $1 million. "We may be the pioneers — others may have to follow," Cr Reynolds said. The council has flagged that it may hike garbage rates by 10 per cent and increase its waste levy by 16 per cent in 2026. In a statement the EPA said it was looking at introducing PFAS monitoring at all landfill sites in NSW. "Landfills have been recognised as a secondary source of PFAS in the environment, though modern engineered landfills minimise the risk of a range of contaminants impacting surrounding environments," a spokesperson said. The authority said it had been working closely with Blayney council since December 2023 to better manage leachate migration from the site and was assessing three grant applications. PFAS has been a concern for the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), which represents multi-nationals, small businesses and local governments. In its submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into PFAS Contamination in Waterways and Drinking Water Supplies, the peak body said the industry could be forced to deal with an issue it did not create. The WMRR described the Commonwealth's move to ban the import, export, use and manufacture of three types of PFAS from 1 July 2025 as "too little, too late". "The ban should be on all types of PFAS, otherwise the government will simply be playing catch up as companies switch to other types of PFAS," its submission reads. "The EU moved to ban PFAS years ago, with the United States introducing tougher drinking water standards and moving to eliminate it from food supply." This week the Australian Bureau of Statistics released a national baseline for PFAS levels in blood and found three types of PFAS were detected in more than 85 per cent of the population. The dataset was created to track PFAS levels over time and to support research into its potential impacts on human health. The ABS noted that there was "an association between higher PFAS levels and some abnormally high chronic disease biomarkers", but said the finding did not confirm a direct cause.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
REVEALED: Plan to change Northbridge's ‘dirty' reputation
A $17 million plan to overcome Northbridge's 'dark, dirty and dangerous reputation' has been endorsed by the City of Perth council. The City of Perth's James Street revitalisation plan encompasses the street from William Street to Fitzgerald Street and envisages new lighting and footpaths, more day and night activities and reduced traffic speeds. The council voted unanimously at its meeting last night to release the plan for public comment. Your local paper, whenever you want it. It includes planting about 30 new trees, widening footpaths to increase space for pedestrians by 40 per cent, traffic calming measures, improving connections with the Perth Cultural Centre and activating the street for both day and night activities. New lighting will be installed aiming to improve safety, security and wayfinding. Low speed treatments are planned for the Lake Street and Melbourne Street intersections. Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said Northbridge was an important part of the city and James Street was the 'cultural artery' of Northbridge. Wider footpaths are part of a plan to revitalise James Street. Credit: cop He said the concept plan would turn James Street into a 'vibrant, walkable and culturally rich' area. It included an extra 2000sqm of footpath space for alfresco dining and performance space, improved shading and better lighting. 'This is a strong plan but good consultation will make it even better,' Cr Reynolds said. Cr Steve Wellard said James Street was one of the city's most 'infamous' night-time economy hot spots but needed a change. He said private property owners needed to support the city's efforts. 'Over time it's become tired-looking, overrun by traffic with little street activation and dimly lit passageways,' he said. 'We have a generational opportunity for positive change that can help shake the dark, dirty and dangerous reputation this night strip has quite unfairly been given over time. It aims to create a well-lit, safe space for dining, performances and late night activities. Credit: City of Perth 'Think how great it would be if the likes of the Brass Monkey Hotel returned to the tuckpointed glory of its Great Western Hotel origins, if Nick's Lane was a well-lit pedestrian walkway complete with Chinese gates and lanterns or Wilson's car park was resurfaced with clearly marked and lit pedestrian thorough fares and street art.' Cr Liam Gobbert endorsed the plan for being more than a 'lick of paint and a few new benches'. He said everyone had had an experience with that part of the city. 'Maybe it's where you met your now partner on a spontaneous night out or you might have been celebrating a birthday, a buck's or a hen's,' Cr Gobbert said. 'All of our major Australian cities have their night-time precincts; Northbridge is ours, we own it and this is a way to improve that for future generations.' James Street's last upgrade was in 2006.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Residents forced to pay for 'forever chemicals' clean-up at local rubbish tip
Ratepayers and communities could be forced to pay for the clean up of their local tips, or build new ones, to prevent PFAS "forever chemicals" leaching into waterways, a rural council has warned. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) include about 4000 chemicals used in a vast array of everyday products, most infamously fire-fighting foam - a practice now being banned in Australia. But they are also found in some cosmetics, sunscreen, dental floss, non-stick cookware, insecticides, packaging, industrial sticky tapes, as well as stain and water protection in carpets, furniture and clothes. Three types of PFAS have been detected in the blood of more than 85 per cent of Australians aged over 12, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found in new data released on May 27. Levels were higher in older people and in males. But one rural council says authorities are foisting the clean up, monitoring and management of PFAS in waste onto local governments - and, therefore, residents. Blayney Shire Council's local tip in the NSW Central West has been operating for about 100 years and PFAS has been found in landfill as well as a nearby community water bore used for livestock during drought - at levels above those acceptable to the state Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The bore is temporarily closed and some landfilling paused while levels are monitored. In a late submission to a PFAS contamination parliamentary inquiry, the council said an initial investigation into the issue would cost $90,000, while ongoing monitoring would be at least $20,000 per year. The bill for on-site treatment of run-off from the tip to remove PFAS would be more than $400,000, Blayney mayor Bruce Reynolds said. And ratepayers would ultimately pay the price. "Council has now been forced in its 2025-2026 operational plan to increase charges on domestic waste consumers by approximately 22 per cent," he said in the submission. "It seems unreasonable that a small rural council operating a very small landfill must pay the price for what is a societal issue that has existed in excess of 50 years." Mr Reynolds said this was "completely at odds with the polluter pays principle". He described the approach as a "perverse outcome" that should be addressed by government while it considered the wider impact on councils and residents across NSW. "The impacts of allowing the products to be used for decades should not be borne by small communities," he said. Landfilling has been temporarily suspended at part of the Blayney site and the EPA was pushing to have it permanently closed, Mr Reynolds wrote in his submission. But the EPA said the new environment protection licence conditions imposed on Blayney were not related just to PFAS. It was "requiring the council to undertake detailed investigations to assess potential on and offsite impacts of a variety of pollutants, including PFAS", a spokesperson for the authority said. In fact, the EPA was looking at introducing PFAS monitoring to all landfill licences across NSW. Mr Reynolds said a new landfill site built to modern standards in Blayney could come with a $1 million price tag. "The burden placed on small councils operating landfills in dealing with a product that is still common in society is quite disproportionate and flies in the face of the polluter pays principle," he wrote. NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who is chairing the inquiry into PFAS contamination, said she was not surprised councils and utilities were asking for help to phase out PFAS in household products. "I think this going to be huge, to be honest, in terms of the PFAS in sewage as well as landfill," she said. "PFAS is in so many products and is, therefore, making its way into landfill and down our toilets and into sewage." Places like Minnesota in the USA had banned certain household goods containing PFAS, such as packaging, cosmetics and baby products, from the beginning of 2025. "Councils are right to be concerned about the cost," Ms Faehrmann said. "In the short term it's very difficult to work out what to do." The NSW parliamentary inquiry is due to report by August 20, 2025. Ratepayers and communities could be forced to pay for the clean up of their local tips, or build new ones, to prevent PFAS "forever chemicals" leaching into waterways, a rural council has warned. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) include about 4000 chemicals used in a vast array of everyday products, most infamously fire-fighting foam - a practice now being banned in Australia. But they are also found in some cosmetics, sunscreen, dental floss, non-stick cookware, insecticides, packaging, industrial sticky tapes, as well as stain and water protection in carpets, furniture and clothes. Three types of PFAS have been detected in the blood of more than 85 per cent of Australians aged over 12, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found in new data released on May 27. Levels were higher in older people and in males. But one rural council says authorities are foisting the clean up, monitoring and management of PFAS in waste onto local governments - and, therefore, residents. Blayney Shire Council's local tip in the NSW Central West has been operating for about 100 years and PFAS has been found in landfill as well as a nearby community water bore used for livestock during drought - at levels above those acceptable to the state Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The bore is temporarily closed and some landfilling paused while levels are monitored. In a late submission to a PFAS contamination parliamentary inquiry, the council said an initial investigation into the issue would cost $90,000, while ongoing monitoring would be at least $20,000 per year. The bill for on-site treatment of run-off from the tip to remove PFAS would be more than $400,000, Blayney mayor Bruce Reynolds said. And ratepayers would ultimately pay the price. "Council has now been forced in its 2025-2026 operational plan to increase charges on domestic waste consumers by approximately 22 per cent," he said in the submission. "It seems unreasonable that a small rural council operating a very small landfill must pay the price for what is a societal issue that has existed in excess of 50 years." Mr Reynolds said this was "completely at odds with the polluter pays principle". He described the approach as a "perverse outcome" that should be addressed by government while it considered the wider impact on councils and residents across NSW. "The impacts of allowing the products to be used for decades should not be borne by small communities," he said. Landfilling has been temporarily suspended at part of the Blayney site and the EPA was pushing to have it permanently closed, Mr Reynolds wrote in his submission. But the EPA said the new environment protection licence conditions imposed on Blayney were not related just to PFAS. It was "requiring the council to undertake detailed investigations to assess potential on and offsite impacts of a variety of pollutants, including PFAS", a spokesperson for the authority said. In fact, the EPA was looking at introducing PFAS monitoring to all landfill licences across NSW. Mr Reynolds said a new landfill site built to modern standards in Blayney could come with a $1 million price tag. "The burden placed on small councils operating landfills in dealing with a product that is still common in society is quite disproportionate and flies in the face of the polluter pays principle," he wrote. NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who is chairing the inquiry into PFAS contamination, said she was not surprised councils and utilities were asking for help to phase out PFAS in household products. "I think this going to be huge, to be honest, in terms of the PFAS in sewage as well as landfill," she said. "PFAS is in so many products and is, therefore, making its way into landfill and down our toilets and into sewage." Places like Minnesota in the USA had banned certain household goods containing PFAS, such as packaging, cosmetics and baby products, from the beginning of 2025. "Councils are right to be concerned about the cost," Ms Faehrmann said. "In the short term it's very difficult to work out what to do." The NSW parliamentary inquiry is due to report by August 20, 2025. Ratepayers and communities could be forced to pay for the clean up of their local tips, or build new ones, to prevent PFAS "forever chemicals" leaching into waterways, a rural council has warned. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) include about 4000 chemicals used in a vast array of everyday products, most infamously fire-fighting foam - a practice now being banned in Australia. But they are also found in some cosmetics, sunscreen, dental floss, non-stick cookware, insecticides, packaging, industrial sticky tapes, as well as stain and water protection in carpets, furniture and clothes. Three types of PFAS have been detected in the blood of more than 85 per cent of Australians aged over 12, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found in new data released on May 27. Levels were higher in older people and in males. But one rural council says authorities are foisting the clean up, monitoring and management of PFAS in waste onto local governments - and, therefore, residents. Blayney Shire Council's local tip in the NSW Central West has been operating for about 100 years and PFAS has been found in landfill as well as a nearby community water bore used for livestock during drought - at levels above those acceptable to the state Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The bore is temporarily closed and some landfilling paused while levels are monitored. In a late submission to a PFAS contamination parliamentary inquiry, the council said an initial investigation into the issue would cost $90,000, while ongoing monitoring would be at least $20,000 per year. The bill for on-site treatment of run-off from the tip to remove PFAS would be more than $400,000, Blayney mayor Bruce Reynolds said. And ratepayers would ultimately pay the price. "Council has now been forced in its 2025-2026 operational plan to increase charges on domestic waste consumers by approximately 22 per cent," he said in the submission. "It seems unreasonable that a small rural council operating a very small landfill must pay the price for what is a societal issue that has existed in excess of 50 years." Mr Reynolds said this was "completely at odds with the polluter pays principle". He described the approach as a "perverse outcome" that should be addressed by government while it considered the wider impact on councils and residents across NSW. "The impacts of allowing the products to be used for decades should not be borne by small communities," he said. Landfilling has been temporarily suspended at part of the Blayney site and the EPA was pushing to have it permanently closed, Mr Reynolds wrote in his submission. But the EPA said the new environment protection licence conditions imposed on Blayney were not related just to PFAS. It was "requiring the council to undertake detailed investigations to assess potential on and offsite impacts of a variety of pollutants, including PFAS", a spokesperson for the authority said. In fact, the EPA was looking at introducing PFAS monitoring to all landfill licences across NSW. Mr Reynolds said a new landfill site built to modern standards in Blayney could come with a $1 million price tag. "The burden placed on small councils operating landfills in dealing with a product that is still common in society is quite disproportionate and flies in the face of the polluter pays principle," he wrote. NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who is chairing the inquiry into PFAS contamination, said she was not surprised councils and utilities were asking for help to phase out PFAS in household products. "I think this going to be huge, to be honest, in terms of the PFAS in sewage as well as landfill," she said. "PFAS is in so many products and is, therefore, making its way into landfill and down our toilets and into sewage." Places like Minnesota in the USA had banned certain household goods containing PFAS, such as packaging, cosmetics and baby products, from the beginning of 2025. "Councils are right to be concerned about the cost," Ms Faehrmann said. "In the short term it's very difficult to work out what to do." The NSW parliamentary inquiry is due to report by August 20, 2025. Ratepayers and communities could be forced to pay for the clean up of their local tips, or build new ones, to prevent PFAS "forever chemicals" leaching into waterways, a rural council has warned. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) include about 4000 chemicals used in a vast array of everyday products, most infamously fire-fighting foam - a practice now being banned in Australia. But they are also found in some cosmetics, sunscreen, dental floss, non-stick cookware, insecticides, packaging, industrial sticky tapes, as well as stain and water protection in carpets, furniture and clothes. Three types of PFAS have been detected in the blood of more than 85 per cent of Australians aged over 12, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found in new data released on May 27. Levels were higher in older people and in males. But one rural council says authorities are foisting the clean up, monitoring and management of PFAS in waste onto local governments - and, therefore, residents. Blayney Shire Council's local tip in the NSW Central West has been operating for about 100 years and PFAS has been found in landfill as well as a nearby community water bore used for livestock during drought - at levels above those acceptable to the state Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The bore is temporarily closed and some landfilling paused while levels are monitored. In a late submission to a PFAS contamination parliamentary inquiry, the council said an initial investigation into the issue would cost $90,000, while ongoing monitoring would be at least $20,000 per year. The bill for on-site treatment of run-off from the tip to remove PFAS would be more than $400,000, Blayney mayor Bruce Reynolds said. And ratepayers would ultimately pay the price. "Council has now been forced in its 2025-2026 operational plan to increase charges on domestic waste consumers by approximately 22 per cent," he said in the submission. "It seems unreasonable that a small rural council operating a very small landfill must pay the price for what is a societal issue that has existed in excess of 50 years." Mr Reynolds said this was "completely at odds with the polluter pays principle". He described the approach as a "perverse outcome" that should be addressed by government while it considered the wider impact on councils and residents across NSW. "The impacts of allowing the products to be used for decades should not be borne by small communities," he said. Landfilling has been temporarily suspended at part of the Blayney site and the EPA was pushing to have it permanently closed, Mr Reynolds wrote in his submission. But the EPA said the new environment protection licence conditions imposed on Blayney were not related just to PFAS. It was "requiring the council to undertake detailed investigations to assess potential on and offsite impacts of a variety of pollutants, including PFAS", a spokesperson for the authority said. In fact, the EPA was looking at introducing PFAS monitoring to all landfill licences across NSW. Mr Reynolds said a new landfill site built to modern standards in Blayney could come with a $1 million price tag. "The burden placed on small councils operating landfills in dealing with a product that is still common in society is quite disproportionate and flies in the face of the polluter pays principle," he wrote. NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who is chairing the inquiry into PFAS contamination, said she was not surprised councils and utilities were asking for help to phase out PFAS in household products. "I think this going to be huge, to be honest, in terms of the PFAS in sewage as well as landfill," she said. "PFAS is in so many products and is, therefore, making its way into landfill and down our toilets and into sewage." Places like Minnesota in the USA had banned certain household goods containing PFAS, such as packaging, cosmetics and baby products, from the beginning of 2025. "Councils are right to be concerned about the cost," Ms Faehrmann said. "In the short term it's very difficult to work out what to do." The NSW parliamentary inquiry is due to report by August 20, 2025.
West Australian
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Boorloo Heritage Festival 2025: One Thousand Swans for Telethon aims to raise awareness for sick kids
A collection of colourful origami swans made with community spirit and kindness is brightening up Elizabeth Quay to raise awareness for WA's most vulnerable. The City of Perth has launched a new initiative, One Thousand Swans for Telethon, which is running during the Lotterywest Boorloo Heritage Festival until April 27. The activity aims to put a local twist on the Japanese tradition of senbazuru — the art of folding 1000 cranes to make a wish, often for good health, happiness, and recovery. Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said Perth City is inviting West Australians to get behind the special initiative by creating origami swans and raising money for Telethon. 'The City of Perth is hoping to surpass 1,000 swans and raise as much money as possible to support Telethon, so come down this week for a fun school holiday activity for a great cause,' he said. 'Everyone who contributes an origami swan is encouraged to make a donation to Telethon to support sick children.' Blake Troode, 5, crafted an origami swan with her family on Tuesday. 'It's fun to do crafts during the holidays, and it helps other kids who are sick,' she said. It was the same for Willow Johnson, 9, who said she was making swans to help other kids. 'We can help make (kids) lives better by raising money for Telethon,' she said. The hand-crafted origami will be displayed alongside Mamma Maali on April 27, representing Perth's collective effort to support sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children across Western Australia. Organised origami workshops will be held during the week in Elizabeth Quay for West Aussies, however people are welcome to craft an origami swan at any point to contribute.
Perth Now
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Origami swans to brighten Elizabeth Quay with kindness
A collection of colourful origami swans made with community spirit and kindness is brightening up Elizabeth Quay to raise awareness for WA's most vulnerable. The City of Perth has launched a new initiative, One Thousand Swans for Telethon, which is running during the Lotterywest Boorloo Heritage Festival until April 27. The activity aims to put a local twist on the Japanese tradition of senbazuru — the art of folding 1000 cranes to make a wish, often for good health, happiness, and recovery. Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said Perth City is inviting West Australians to get behind the special initiative by creating origami swans and raising money for Telethon. 'The City of Perth is hoping to surpass 1,000 swans and raise as much money as possible to support Telethon, so come down this week for a fun school holiday activity for a great cause,' he said. 'Everyone who contributes an origami swan is encouraged to make a donation to Telethon to support sick children.' Blake Troode, 5, crafted an origami swan with her family on Tuesday. Millie Johnson, 8, with paper swans at Elizabeth Quay. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian 'It's fun to do crafts during the holidays, and it helps other kids who are sick,' she said. It was the same for Willow Johnson, 9, who said she was making swans to help other kids. 'We can help make (kids) lives better by raising money for Telethon,' she said. The hand-crafted origami will be displayed alongside Mamma Maali on April 27, representing Perth's collective effort to support sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children across Western Australia. Organised origami workshops will be held during the week in Elizabeth Quay for West Aussies, however people are welcome to craft an origami swan at any point to contribute.
