Permapole has defended itself against claims that stormwater run-off containing dangerous levels of heavy metals was discharged from its site into the local environment.
Last week The Examiner reported that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale are investigating a complaint against the Cardup-based timber treatment plant.
The complaint was made by Soldier’s Rd resident John McEwan after NATA-accredited lab tests on water samples he said were collected from an open drain on Robertson Rd showed alarming levels of arsenic and chromium; Permapole’s treatment process uses a copper chromium arsenate (CCA) solution.
But Special Counsel for Permapole Brendan Foley has cast doubt over those test results.
“We are not aware whether the person making these allegations is accredited or appropriately trained and qualified to take water samples in accordance with relevant Australian standards, nor are we aware of where his samples were actually taken from, how they were taken and stored prior to testing,” Mr Foley said.
“Permapole operates within strict environmental approvals issued by and managed by DWER and is regularly inspected.
“None of the water from the CCA timber production or storage area or from the lined water storage basin enters the surrounding environment.
“Water levels within the lined basin are actively monitored because, in accordance with the approvals, water is reused within Permapole’s factory which produces CCA treated timber products and does not overflow.”
He explained that historically the company had discharged treated water according to its licence, but they had not done so “for years”.
“We also regularly sample groundwater from our on-site bore and also stormwater on site that is both within and not within the CCA treated timber production or storage areas,” he said.
“Importantly, Permapole use persons who are appropriately trained to conduct sampling, preservation and handling of water tests in accordance with relevant Australian Standards.
“Importantly, Permapole’s independent testing does not reflect elevated levels of the heavy metals referred to in your article, or as stated by that particular resident.”
Mr Foley showed The Examiner results from water testing for heavy metals, conducted on October 16, within the lined basin and in the on-site stormwater drain.
“The arsenic levels alleged by the person referred to in your article are five times higher than that within our licenced and lined basin,” he said.
“The testing confirms that consistent with our approvals, the general stormwater system immediately prior to leaving our site is not contaminated, and does not contain any heavy metals in exceedance of the drinking water standards published by Water Corporation.
Mr Foley said that Mr McEwan had a habit of making complaints against businesses within the Cardup Business Park.
“Accusations as to water contamination by a particular resident have persisted over many years. His allegations are regularly investigated by relevant authorities,” he said, and added:
“We are aware that a member of a local Community Reference Group (CRG) implied outside of a recent meeting that they had trespassed upon the property to conduct water sampling”.
But John and Karen McEwan have refuted those accusations, calling them “completely diabolical”.
“This is a typical lawyer’s response – demonising the victim,” Karen McEwan said.
“We are not so stupid that we would: 1. Break into a private property 2. Admit to it in a public forum, and 3. Publicise any result from an alleged criminal offence.”
“I knew they would try to discredit my samples, but it seems they’ll make up any story they want to,” John McEwan added.
“What is laughable is that if their own test results are really five times lower than those I took from the V drain outside the plant, surely that exonerates me from their ridiculous allegations that I went onto their property to take my samples.
“I admit I’m not trained or accredited – all I wanted was an idea of what was being dumped here. So, I took samples of the water outside the Permapole plant and I put it in my fridge until I sent it off for testing.”
Ms McEwan clarified that – accreditation aside – she did have many years of experience in scientific research and methodology as a senior research metallurgist with BHP Billiton in South Africa, and as manager of research and development for a number of large mining lease organisations.
The pair also refuted the claim they had been a thorn in the Cardup Business Park companies’ side for ‘many years’ with ‘persistent’ and ‘unfounded’ complaints.
“I’d like to see their evidence of that. We have been living here for over 20 years and only started to make complaints around 12 months ago when construction started to ramp up at Permacast without the required development approvals,” Mr McEwan said.
“Before that we thought we were being protected by the shire and state legislation.”
He also threw down the gauntlet to Permapole:
“We have been transparent and presented our testing with lab certificates. We’d like to see the results of their water testing too.”
