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Tuesday 22 November 2016
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Everyone counts GUESTS were “enriched, moved and inspired” by Jules Allen at the Helping Hands morning tea, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Crib Point, on Friday. Ms Allen challenged her audience to draw strength from unity, pointing out that we all know people depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, job loss, separation, loss of a loved one, or low self-esteem. “They are really us,” she said. Ms Allen, who is dedicated to changing the lives of at-risk children, spoke about the foster care system and her experiences with some of the 30,000 young people in care, with carers becoming few and far between. She singled out Genevieve Myer who has cared for 115 foster babies. “Mental issues affect us all” Page 3. Picture: Yanni
Chemical tests at naval base Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au THE Department of Defence has ordered a “detailed environmental investigation” in and around the HMAS Cerberus base after the discovery of traces of a chemical carcinogen outside the base. The per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) was contained in aqueous fire-fighting foams used in training
and is suspected of infecting soil and ground water as run-off. Although phased out by the department in 2004, the chemical was used for decades at defence force bases throughout Australia. HMAS Cerberus is one of 12 sites under investigation, with some, such as the Townsville RAAF Base, and HMAS Stirling near Perth, already found to have toxins in their water 300 times recommended safety levels.
A defence statement last week said four samples had been collected from off-base locations near the Western Port base in June – one groundwater and three surface water samples. No on-base samples were collected. “The chemical was detected in one of the surface water samples, but this was below the interim screening criteria,” the statement said. “PFAS was not detected in the groundwater sample. “Based on the outcome of the pre-
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liminary sampling program, HMAS Cerberus will be subject to a detailed environmental investigation. [This] will determine the full nature and extent of PFAS on, and in the vicinity of, the base as part of defence’s national PFAS environmental investigation program.” The investigation will begin next year and take 12 months to complete. It aims to provide “significant site-specific information to assist in the iden-
tification of suitable management and remedial options”. It will also seek to identify pathways and receptors – such as people, plants or animals that may have been exposed, and include a human health and ecological risk assessment and plan future action to mitigate risks. The department stresses the offending chemical, PFAS, is found in food packaging and non-stick cookware. Continued Page 7
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