Lead levels eight times above the reportable threshold were found in the playground of the Captains Flat preschool in the NSW Tablelands, and its outdoor playground and garden areas have been closed as a safety measure. Children continue to attend the preschool but are being kept inside. The discovery comes five years after the preschool was relocated because of lead contamination, with community association president Ellanor Pavlovich questioning why lead had been found again.
The town of Captains Flat, about 40 kilometres from Canberra, was found to have lead in surface soils in 2021, about four decades after the Lake George gold mine closed. In 2021, results showed that soil in and around the preschool playground was “quite deeply contaminated with lead,” leading to its closure and relocation to a new site.
The latest routine testing last week detected elevated lead levels at the relocated preschool. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said further testing last week and today found no further elevated lead levels. The EPA said works would be completed in coming days, with the preschool expected to reopen on Monday.
Ellanor Pavlovich, president of the Captains Flat Community Association, expressed frustration that contamination had been found again after efforts to relocate the preschool. “It does raise the question of 'why are we finding contamination again, after they have already tested the site?'” she said. While she said the EPA appeared to be acting swiftly at the preschool, she wanted it to move quicker to address exposure risks across the town, including at private properties. From today, residents can register to access a $1 million community fund to remove lead from their properties, but Pavlovich said there were concerns it would not cover the whole town because contamination was ongoing.
Local MP for Monaro Steve Whan said he would lobby for ongoing funding to remove lead in the town. “If it needs more money at the end of that, we're not going to leave the job half done,” he said. Whan said his understanding was that a small area at the new preschool site had potentially elevated lead levels, but it was nowhere near the old preschool, which was quite adjacent to the old mine area and workings.
The EPA said in a statement that it understood the community's concerns and appreciated "their patience as we work to reduce potential exposure." The regulator described the $1 million community fund as an important step toward helping eligible residents manage lead contamination on their properties.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Residents of Captains Flat face ongoing health risks from lead exposure, with children particularly vulnerable at the preschool.
- The recurrence of contamination at a relocated site raises questions about the effectiveness of remediation and testing.
- The adequacy of the $1 million community fund for private property clean-up will determine whether the town can fully address the legacy of mining pollution.
Background
Captains Flat is a former gold mining town in the NSW Tablelands. The Lake George gold mine operated for decades before closing around the 1980s. In 2021, widespread lead contamination was discovered in the town's soils, leading to the closure and relocation of the preschool. The NSW EPA has since been working with the council and other agencies to manage the contamination.
Key Perspectives
Ellanor Pavlovich (Captains Flat Community Association president): expressed disappointment at the fresh discovery of lead and questioned why contamination was found again after testing. She said the EPA appeared to be acting swiftly at the preschool but wanted faster action on private properties, and expressed concern that the $1 million fund may not be enough.
Steve Whan (local MP for Monaro): said he would lobby for ongoing funding and was confident more money would be available if needed. He described the contamination at the new preschool site as less severe than the old site.
NSW EPA: said it understood the community's concerns and appreciated their patience. It confirmed further testing found no other elevated lead levels, and described the $1 million community fund as an important step for residents to manage contamination on their properties.
What to Watch
- The preschool's reopening on Monday and any further test results from the site.
- Uptake of the $1 million community fund and whether it will be sufficient to cover all affected properties.
- Potential additional state government funding or a long-term remediation plan for the town.