Toxic soil to go from Ballarat North

FOLLOWING the demolition of Ballarat North’s Midlands Reserve Scout Hall, soil tests have discovered Benzo(a)pyrene on site.

Shallow excavation on the Landsborough Street block after the building’s removal uncovered compacted gravel, and ash or cinders. Enviroco Australia then identified the Benzo(a)pyrene, which is typically found in coal tar.

An Environment Protection Authority contractor, Enviroco Pty Ltd is set to remove the contaminated soil from next week, and follow approved EPA guidelines so the broader community is not affected.

The soil will be disposed at the EPA approved location.

The earth on the adjacent properties, the Midlands Kindergarten and Midlands Reserve Aquatic Play Space is safe, with soil tests returning negative to Benzo(a)pyrene.

The workers, families and user groups of the kinder, Ballarat Childcare Cooperative, Ballarat North Community Centre, and surrounding residential properties were alerted to the works and contamination discovery last week on Friday, 26 March.

The property, 705 Landsborough Street, is currently fenced off to the public. The earth at Midlands Aquatic Play Space and Midlands Kindergarten will be tested again to thoroughly ensure its safety.

Recent results, and those from past tests during previous reserve works, show the green space to be safe for the community’s ongoing recreational use.