FORRESTFIELD–AIRPORT
LINK — SOIL CONTAMINATION
381. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to my questions on
PFAS-contaminated soil excavated from the Forrestfield–Airport Link
project, in particular question without notice 164 asked on 13 March 2019,
question without notice 178 asked on 14 March 2019 and question without notice
359 asked yesterday, 10 April 2019.
(1) Has the
Minister for Transport informed the director general of the Department of the
Premier and Cabinet, Mr Darren Foster, that she discussed the disposal of
PFAS-contaminated soil excavated from the Forrestfield–Airport Link
project with Mr Greg Poland in April 2018, as evidenced in the answers to
questions without notice 164 and 178?
(2) If yes to
(1), on what date?
(3) Has the
Minister for Transport informed the director general of the Department of the
Premier and Cabinet that Mr Greg Poland and Ms Corina Johnson had met with the
Peel Development Commission to discuss the potential disposal of
PFAS-contaminated soil excavated from the Forrestfield–Airport Link
project in the Peel region, as evidenced by the minister's answers?
(4) If yes to
(3), on what date?
(5) Given that on
12 October 2017 the minister's answer to question without notice 702
confirms her knowledge of PFAS contamination
of this soil, and the minister's answers to questions without notice
164 and 178 confirmed the minister's knowledge in July 2018 of
discussions about the potential disposal of this
soil in the Peel region, exactly what communication did the minister have with
Mr Poland or Ms Johnson on this issue and when?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided by the
Minister for Transport. The minister notes that the issue of PFAS was well
known to the previous government and was recognised when it entered into a contract
for the construction of the Forrestfield–Airport Link, yet chose not to
disclose it.
(1)–(5) As
the minister has stated previously, the topic of Forrestfield–Airport
Link spoil was raised by Mr Poland in his capacity as deputy chair of the Peel
Development Commission in April 2018 in a meeting regarding Hillarys Boat
Harbour. On 13 July 2018, the Peel Development Commission followed up with a meeting
request, which the minister declined and forwarded to the Public Transport
Authority for a direct response. Meetings between the Peel Development
Commission, Ms Johnson and Mr Poland are a matter for the Peel Development
Commission.