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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Correa Bay report available

 

The Correa Bay report has finally been released, two years after it was submitted to Gosford Council.

The report found sediment from the Bulls Hill quarry and leachate from the Woy Woy tip have been primarily responsible for the degradation of Correa Bay in recent years.

The report is entitled "A quantitative and qualitative study of the environmental status of Correa Bay and its catchment, July 2000" and was compiled by the Correa Bay Water Quality Management Committee.

Both Gosford Council and the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) were strongly criticised for their actions in the decade leading up to the July 2000 report.

Gosford Council was manager of the tip and regulator of the quarry and DLWC was manager and regulator of the quarry.

The report found that the tip leachate problem had, belatedly, been contained but the sedimentation problem had not.

However, both organisations have questioned the report conclusions and have denied suggestions of negligence or liability.

In a 38-page addendum published with the report, officers from both organisations claimed that the report did not provide proof that the Bulls Hill quarry was primarily responsible for sedimentation of Correa Bay.

They listed other activities, including Robson's quarry, the rail tunnel and the abattoir, which may also have contributed.

The DLWC response was critical of the scientific method used to measure levels of marine life in the bay.

The council response stated that, at the time in question, the council was attempting to close as many as 74 illegal quarries and had to implement new regulations to upgrade each of its tips.

It stated that the leachate problem at the tip had been adequately addressed and that the council took "direct action" in relation to the Bull's Hill quarry at the time breaches were identified.

The report is available on the council's web site, www.gosford.nsw.gov.au.

It will also be one of two subjects for discussion at a public meeting to be held at the Everglades Country Club at 10am on Sunday, August 11.

The other topic is the status of plans to eliminate the Rawson Rd level crossing.

Council website, July 2