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Narangba Industrial Estate Health Impact Assessment

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Health Impact Assessment Studies

The Community Reference Group identified a range of community concerns for the HIA to consider.  While not an exhaustive list, the following demonstrates the wide variety of concerns/issues the community has had with respect to the NIE, its operations, management, regulation and future planning.

1. The extent to which Saltwater Creek and its tributaries, associated soil and ground water is contaminated.
2. Risks associated with smoke plume intrusion over/on populated areas of residential estates (including schools, etc) downwind of the NIE during the Binary Industries fire.
3. The likelihood for another NIE major incident and the associated local community fear of whether or not they are “living near a ticking time bomb” resulting in “plummeting property values” as a consequence.
4. The perception that there is not a viable, integrated “community emergency evacuation system” or a linked “disaster early warning system”.
5. Concerns regarding the release and dissemination of information by both government and industry, relating to NIE (associated) hazards and suggestions that legislated disclosure laws would be required to guarantee “community protection”.
6. The extent to which alleged health issues/complications present in the local community might be linked to emissions emanating from the NIE.
7. Ongoing issues with odours emanating from the NIE.
8. The presence of dioxins in the environment believed to be associated with both the NIE and environs.
9. Expressed community uncertainty or lack of confidence in regulatory systems and planning processes as a result of a perceived increase of risk due to frequency of incidents.
10. The adequacy of existing buffer zones around the NIE, both in terms of concerns about safety and the uncertainty regarding future potential expansion of business or residential development. This contributes to a heightened feeling of anxiety in the community (including NIE businesses and existing population) regarding the uncertainty of the future.
11. The extent to which government planning and design of future industrial estates or current approval processes for the expansion of existing industrial estates, considers previously identified issues or concerns such as those identified by the community within and around NIE.

Issues were considered and where appropriate some were scoped into the HIA while others are currently being addressed through other avenues.

Existing data availability relating to those concerns relevant to the HIA was limited, resulting in the requirement for data collection.   Data has been collected for the specific purpose to provide background information for the HIA or to provide information on potential hazards to health such as environmental factors. 

The project has involved collaboration with many different stakeholders depending on where expertise and assistance has been required.  Those involved have included the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Moreton Bay Regional Council, industry, local community, Department of Emergency Services, Department of Education, Department of Industrial Relations and Department of Infrastructure and Planning.

To date the following studies have been conducted and completed:

Community Profile

• Community (demographic) profile
• Health profile
• Environmental health risk perception survey

Air Quality Studies

• Intensive ambient air monitoring
• Carbonyl air monitoring
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) air monitoring
• Stack emission monitoring
• Ambient odour survey
• Passive canister air samples

Other Studies/reviews

• Post Event Review of the two chemical fires that occurred in August 2005 and December 2006
• Development of site specific meteorological model
• Emission Inventory of the NIE

Outstanding work includes:

• Completion of emission modelling
• Completion of the health risk assessment
• Completion of final HIA report

Most of these studies have been conducted by private, independent companies with experience in their respective fields. Tenders were invited for all studies and a transparent assessment process was used.

A detailed emissions inventory was developed which identified the present air pollutants and their discharge points.  This involved participation of many stakeholders including four different consultantancies, industry, Moreton Bay Regional Council and EPA.  Direct measurement of emissions was then conducted at various identified sources.  Computer modelling of this emissions data will generate information to enable population exposure assessment of key pollutants under a range of scenarios.  The data yielded from this exercise will enable the identification of the potential for adverse health effects based on hazard and exposure assessments.

This data will be complemented by the analysis of health related data from various datasets (Queensland Cancer Registry and hospital separation data) relative to the areas of Narangba and Deception Bay.

As per the Terms of Reference, the results of these studies will not be made publically available until after the completion of the health impact assessment.

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