The Environment Protection Authority is analysing various sites around Sunshine and Sunshine North it fears could be contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals.
The work coincides with the EPA providing a letter to a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing last week that revealed groundwater at the former Sunvale Primary School site – for which a developer is seeking planning approval for a 60-unit project – was contaminated with the “volatile chemical” trichloroethane (TCE).
TCE is mainly used as an industrial solvent in a variety of industries, the EPA says.
The developer took the matter to VCAT after Brimbank council rejected the permit application on the grounds that the Sunvale site was a risk to human health.
In the letter to VCAT, EPA Victoria regional director Damien Wells said an audit was needed for the Sunvale development.
“The groundwater below the site is contaminated with trichloroethane … a volatile chemical,” the letter said.
“Soil vapour sampling has been conducted and it’s our understanding that it has been measured at levels that may pose a risk to humans.”
EPA metro manager Dan Hunt said it became aware of concerns about the site in September last year, prompting an investigation of “potential vapour impacts from groundwater contamination in the Sunshine area”.
“Initial investigations indicated that due to the long industrial history of Sunshine, there were multiple potential sources of contamination,” he said.
“While the investigation was triggered by data relating to trichloroethane, the EPA is investigating a wide range of potential contaminants of concern.
“As a result, EPA initiated a Sunshine regional groundwater project.”
VCAT is expected to make a decision within five weeks.
