The environmental watchdog has knocked back a request by Port Stephens Council to leave a 3000 tonne waste pile at the site of the Alexander Park Pony Club in Salt Ash.
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Instead, the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority has insisted the contaminated soil be treated and then removed to a lawful waste facility, nine months after it was dumped there at the behest of mayor Bruce MacKenzie.
It comes after the EPA found that the pile contained hazardous acid sulfate soils as recently as last month, meaning it was not “fit for reuse”.
The council has on multiple occasions denied the dirt pile was contaminated with acid sulfates, even producing results of independent testing results to back up the claim. It applied in February to leave the waste on-site for the construction of a BMX track.
However on Thursday a council spokeswoman appeared to concede that it would follow the latest directive from the EPA.
“Port Stephens Council is in regular communication with the EPA regarding this issue,” she said. “Discussions are ongoing in relation to potential disposal options.”
Salt Ash Pony Club president Lisa Gregory said it was disappointing that no action had been taken on the ground to remove the soil.
