Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00053:body:0:p33
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00053
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 83809–86879

immediately surrounding the island, as well as in the surrounding region of the harbour. The CIRC concluded that while elevated concentrations of contaminants were present both within the island's boundary and nearby, contaminants in sediments remote from the island were also at elevated concentrations, and that any further investigations would need to consider the sediment data in the context of the surrounding environment.
Potential human health risks from sediment contamination may arise from the consumption of fish, or by direct contact during swimming or wading. However, CIRC (1998) considered that this risk was low, based on available fish tissue analytical data and the low potential for contact with sediments. CIRC (1998) did not recommend any specific remediation or management requirements for the sediments. This was largely due to the absence of a regulatory framework at that time.
In 2003, the Site Auditor also reviewed the sediment data around Cockatoo Island, and considered that:
  * There was an adequate level of chemical information for most contaminants of concern in sediments, both surrounding the island and in the docks, with the exception of Tributyltin;
  * This information indicated that concentrations of copper, lead, mercury, zinc and tributyltin in sediments within the docks and around the island exceeded the relevant criteria from ANZECC (2000) and background concentrations;
  * Available information indicated that sediment contamination is also present in large areas of the waterways surrounding the island, and;
  * It was not yet possible to assess the risks to human health and the environment from contaminated sediments around Cockatoo Island, and that further action would be required before an appropriate management and or remediation strategy could be defined.
The auditor recommended that additional information be gathered to assess the bioavailability of contaminated sediments in accordance with ANZECC 2000. The Harbour Trust's response to these recommendations, as well as an interim sediment management strategy is discussed in the Outcomes section of this plan.

Hazardous Materials
As a result of historical uses of the site, residual hazardous materials associated with buildings and structures may have presented potential health hazards for future use of the site, and may be a source of soil and surface contamination in all areas. Hazardous materials included asbestos and asbestos containing materials, Synthetic Mineral Fibre (SMF), deteriorating lead paint systems, poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dusts and sediments on building surfaces containing lead and other inorganic and organic contaminants. However, in recent years, Cockatoo Island has undergone an extensive program of removal of hazardous materials.
In October 1998, Woodward-Clyde and CMPS&F undertook an environmental characterisation study of Cockatoo Island for the Department of Defence. As part of this study, a hazardous materials survey of materials associated with buildings, structures and machinery was conducted.