​​​​​Below is a link to the MOD 7 proposal.

Note that there are multiple appendixes, however I have added a link to the Technical Report for Soil, Groundwater and Contamination as this is very relevant.

MOD 7 Infrastructure consolidation and remediation | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment

Appendix G - Technical report - Soils, Groundwater and Contamination

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• This set of modifications includes significant changes to the previous plans to remediate the contaminated land.

• This has now changed to removal of infrastructure and putting a cap over the contaminated land so that it will be there forever. The land will always be industrial.

• Removal of the infrastructure includes the Oily Water Sewer system near Marton Park Wetlands.

• It also will change the way that stormwater is managed, with water from 22% of the site draining via an open channel into Quibray Bay via the RAMSAR protected 'Towra Point Nature Reserve'.

• The MOD 7 document says that there will be an increases of 10 to 20% stormwater.

 

In 2022, there was a significant Ampol diesel spill which flowed into and around Marton Park drainage system to Quibray Bay.

Below is a document providing the details of this event.

This is a part of the Towra Point RAMSAR Wetlands.

 

Because of the mangrove dieback, the drainage channel from Marton Park Wetlands has been obstructed. This has resulted in the Wetlands being waterlogged. The higher-than-normal water level over the past 3 years has impacted one of the local residents properties.

And the Wetland itself has been adversely impacted.

 

Below are 2 documents which outline the significance of the environmental damage from the contamination.

It is noted that residents who have been monitoring the quality of the water in the Marton Park Wetlands, frequently report that the water is contaminated with an oily substance and there is the smell of petroleum.

Quibray Bay Mangrove Forest.docx

 

Marton Park Wetlands updated.docx

 

We also have a local 92 year old resident who has been subjected to ongoing flooding of her land since April 2022. A Current Affair also shared our residents story, you can watch this here. Whilst some remediation works have taken place - there is still significant work to be undertaken.

 

MOD 7 points of concern:

It is unreasonable that:

• the community was only given 15 days to respond to a highly technical plan.

• There was minimal information provided to the Kurnell community and no information provided to the broader Shire Community.

• There needed to be a user-friendly summary of this MOD 7 proposal for the general public.

• Sutherland Shire Councillors appear to be uninformed about the proposal and its implications

• Ampol have decided to undertake significant changes to the original commitment to remediate the land.

• Ampol are going to make changes to the way that contaminated ground water and stormwater impact on the adjacent land, including Quibray Bay and its fragile ecosystem.

• Ampol are going to make changes to the way that overland flooding from the Ampol site is managed.

  • This includes an increase in the volume of stormwater and a change in its flow path to Quibray Bay.

  • A new Flood study is about to be undertaken Kurnell.

  • This will be based on Rainfall and Runoff Data that has been updated for Climate Change.

  • The Ampol changes need to be evaluated against that data.

The MOD7 needs to be rejected until there is appropriate and informed discussion with:

• The Kurnell and broader Shire Communities.

• Sutherland Shire Council (who should provide a report to Councillors and the community).

• Councils Catchment & Waterways and Environment & Sustainability Reference Groups

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Click on the link and MOD 7 Infrastructure consolidation and remediation | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment to find out more.