OCTOBER 23, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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Chemical cocktail fears By Benjamin Millar
Lakshana shines in final
(Damjan Janevski)
Up to 10 million litres of chemicals have been left exposed at the site of the toxic Tottenham fire for more than a year, sparking a furious response from nearby residents. Taxpayers may also be forced to pick up the bill to clean up the 14,000 square metre site of the August 2018 fire, which was fuelled by an illegally dumped chemical cocktail of toxic waste and scrap metal. Environment Protection Authority Victoria confirmed on Monday that up to 10 million litres of residual chemicals including dangerous goods – enough to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools – have remained on the site for almost 14 months. A joint EPA and WorkSafe statement said security guards have been posted to the site around-the-clock as authorities attempt to force the site owner and occupier to clean up residual chemicals including aerosols, solvents and paint residues. Chris Kennett, who lives near the site, said residents are fearful of potential health impacts and frustrated that authorities have failed to lay any charges or issue fines over the fire, which spewed black smoke over the western suburbs and burnt for almost a week. “More than a year later the creek is still dead, we keep our children indoors – a great crime has been done upon our community and no one has been punished,” he said. “There are so many furious and scared people around here that have been ignored by the authorities and it’s going to come to a head.” Sue Vittori, chair of the Anti-Toxic Waste Alliance, said the delays in informing the community and securing the site have been unacceptable. “As a community we are feeling that there is no sense of urgency, there needs to be a far more serious response,” she said. Star Weekly reported in August that site owner Christopher James Baldwin, via his company Danbol Pty Ltd, has been ordered to remove all high risk chemical waste from the site within 12 months. EPA and WorkCover repeated on Monday that waste and chemicals must be removed from the site by August 2020. They said the government may be forced to step in if the site owner fails to clean up the site. Footscray MP Katie Hall has called for a community meeting to be held this week so residents can ask the relevant authorities about the fire site.
Altona Meadows woman Lakshana Soopaul has made it through to the 2020 Miss World Australia state final. She was among 30 contestants in the preliminary final held at The Trust Melbourne on Saturday and one of 17 through to the next stage. Lakshana, 22, is studying a Bachelor of Science, after which she plans to become a doctor of physiotherapy. She and her family migrated from Mauritius about six years ago. “Because of my background, I’ve had the privilege to learn five languages from a very young age,” she said. “I’m fluent in English, French, Mauritian creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri.” Lakshana said she spent almost her entire life “on the unhealthy side of the scale” until three years ago when she started her fitness journey and lost about 38 kilograms. “I am someone who has struggled my whole life, so that was when I really started believing in myself,” she said. “I was not healthy, as well. “When I lost weight, it kind of made me fit in my body and in my mind, also.” Lakshana also competed in the 2019 title, raising the most money (more than $8500) of any Victorian contestant for Variety – the Children’s Charity. Ahead of the state final, to be held mid next year, Lakshana is again fundraising for Variety as part of the pageant.
Goya Dmytryshchak