Community Outreach Projects
Community Ambient Air Monitoring Program
Background
During community workshops to discuss the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Groundwater Treatment Plant (GTP), participants raised the issue of local air quality in and around Banksmeadow. In response to this interest, and in cooperation with Banksmeadow School, Orica developed a monitoring program to help raise awareness about local air quality. The air monitoring program was additional to the emissions monitoring that was required and is conducted for operation of the GTP.
Demonstration of air sampling method to Matraville Public School students
Scope of the Program
Pollutants in the air are generated by a range of sources including car and truck exhaust, industrial emissions, other industry, such as spray painting, and events such as fires. Orica's Local Community Air Monitoring Program included local air monitoring before and after the start up of the GTP. Monitoring sites included Banksmeadow, Matraville and Pagewood Primary Schools, a City of Botany Bay Council Depot and the Discovery Cove Business Park.
Targeted Compounds
The program targeted the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and dioxins. Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) are one type of VOCs that are the source of the Orica groundwater contamination of the Botany Sands Aquifer. The GTP treats the groundwater to separate the CHCs from the water.
The separation of CHCs from the groundwater and their destruction using high temperature incineration (thermal oxidation) at the GTP has the potential to produce dioxins (for further information, look up Fact Sheet No 13 Dioxins in the Environment  ). Orica's Community Air Monitoring Program aimed to identify any changes in local air quality before and after the start up of the GTP.
Sampling Periods
The first sampling events (Stage 1) were conducted in September and October 2005, before the GTP was operating. Further sampling events occurred in 2006 during commissioning of the GTP (Stage 2). Stage 3 sampling was undertaken in April and November 2007, and in June 2008, after the GTP began to operate at a greater capacity. Timing of monitoring events was planned to ensure that seasonal variability is considered.
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Stage Reference
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Round Reference
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Monitoring Date
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Reporting Date
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1st Stage
Pre GTP Start-up
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VOC Round 1
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8 September 2005
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Report No. 1, issued February 2006
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VOC Round 2
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19 October 2005
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Dioxin Round 1
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Commenced 6 September 2005
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2nd Stage
Post GTP Start-up (operating at 50 % capacity)
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VOC Round 3
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14 September 2006
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Report No. 2, issued May 2007
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Dioxin Round 2
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Commenced 6 September 2006
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3rd Stage
Post GTP Start-up (operating at greater capacity)
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VOC Round 4
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26 April 2007
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Report No. 3, issued February 2009
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VOC Round 5
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20 November 2007
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VOC Round 6
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12 June 2008 |
Reporting the Results
Findings from each of the monitoring stages were reported to the local school communities and the CLC as they became available.
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