Toxic fire contaminates community
In June 2006 the community living in the vicinity of the Narangba Industrial Estate (NIE) began a class action against the state of Queensland over years of contamination and illness resulting from the proximity of hazardous industries to their homes.
The issue came to a head in August 2005 when a fire at Binary Chemicals spewed smoke and liquid into the local air and water. Many locals have experienced health problems since that occasion, some have been experiencing the ill effect of the estate for a lot longer.
For some pictures of NIE see also the Brisbane Regional Environment Council
Media + Multimedia
@ Radio Indymedia
*Nb. Clicking these links takes you to the download site. To download mp3 files to your computer right click on the link and choose 'save file'
East Narangba Community Action Group media releases please go to: [FoEB Media pages]
The Class Action
In June 2006 the community living in the vicinity of the Narangba Industrial Estate began a class action against the state of Queensland over years of contamination and illness resulting from the proximity of hazardous industries to their homes.
Were you affected? Join the Class Action.
What you need to know
Although there is no complete list of the chemicals burnt in the Binary fire, a legal claim by another company against Binary tells us some of what they were storing.
Chemicals released into the air and water by the Binary fire include: 2,4 D, diuron, glyphosate. Also Chlorpyrifos which is banned in the US due to their risk to children, and Bifenthrin which is banned in Europe due to it's toxicity and link with cancer.
Some of these chemicals are still being produced by other corporations at Narangba Industrial Estate.
Other hazardous industrial chemicals in use at Narangba
Other hazardous industrial chemicals in use at NIE include Cobalt 60, PCBs and Copper Chrome Arsenate.
Cobalt 60 is a nuclear by-product used in the irradiation industry (Steritech at NIE) which emits gamma rays. Exposure to gamma rays can cause cancerm radiation burns and birth defects, exposure of food to gamma rays results in decreased nutritional value. [more]
A polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) destruction facility exists in Krypton St, Narangba (Base Catalysed Dechlorination (BCD) Technologies). PCBs are amongst the most toxic chemicals known, and one of 12 POPs (persistent organic pollutants) and have been banned worldwide. BCD Technologies also are licenced to destroy organochlorine Pesticides and are the sole Australian facility for the destruction these materials.
Copper-chrome Arsenate is a timber treatment used widely to protect against termites. A move to have in banned in Australia is afoot after it's connection to cancer was discovered.
The first to raise concern were Melbourne's Croydon Conservation Society, and Friends of the Earth, which tested play ground equipment and found levels of arsenic as high 70 times the maximum safe limit.
It is already banned in the USA and Europe. [REPORT: Treated Timber, Ticking Timebomb, Nina Lansbury Hall]
Other useful resources:
Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants [pdf] DEH
Mass Media Coverage
Demand for toxin laws
Courier Mail, 6 Aug 2006
Suburb's smell of fear
Courier Mail, 4 Aug 2006
Tests confirm toxic shock
Courier Mail, 3 Aug 2006
Fire 'released harmful contaminants'
The Australian, 3 Aug 2006
Narangba tests find massive levels of harmful chemicals
ABC Online, 3 Aug 2006
Narangba fire contamination cover-up alleged
ABC Regional Online, 3 Aug 2006
Overseas experts join case
Courier Mail, 2 Aug 2006
Tougher controls
Courier Mail, 16 Jul 2006
Real estate group says cancer fears may affect property sales
ABC Online, 8 Jul 2006
Housing approved near toxic estate
Courier Mail, 2 Jul 2006
Fire report infuriates
Courier Mail, 23 Jun 2006
State govt looks to relocate Narangba noxious biz
Queensland Business Review, 22 Jun 2006
Beattie rejects Narangba PR stunt claims
ABC, 22 Jun 2006
Time to come clean on fire
Courier Mail, June 20, 2006
AMA slams Health poll
Courier Mail, June 20, 2006
Fire fallout lingers
Courier Mail, June 20, 2006
New deal on toxic sites
Courier Mail, 16 Jun 2006
Search for toxic 'mistakes'
Courier Mail, 14 Jun 2006
Chemical site near houses
Courier Mail, 12 Jun 2006
Nowhere to move
Courier Mail, 7 Jun 2006
State faces huge bill
Courier Mail, 5 Jun 2006
Fears'justified'
Courier Mail, 2 Jun 2006
Doctors not told
Courier Mail,1 Jun 2006
Minister refuses to release report
Courier Mail, 31 May 2006
Beattie criticises council over Narangba housing zones
ABC Regional 30 May 2006
Council denies responsibility
Courier Mail, 29 May 2006
Fallout warning year ago
Courier Mail, 28 May 2006
Our toxic hangover
Courier Mail, 26 May 2006
Weedkiller factory clean up to cost staggering $30 million
Sunshine Coast EcoNews, April 2006
Storm havoc on Sunshine Coast Herald Sun, 2005
Chemical fire run-off to be treated with sewerage
Sunshine Coast News, Jan 2006
Binary Fire Cleanup QLD EPA, 4 November 2005
Crews Out in Force at Narangba Incident [pdf]
Emergency Services Newsletter, Sept 2005
Explosions, fire rip through chemical factory.
ABC Online August 26, 2005
Drums 'like sky rockets' in $5m blaze
The Advertiser, August 2005
Take a Virtual Tour of Narangba Industrial estate
with Mick Petter, Cooordinator of the Brisbane Regional Environment Centre
@ Radio4All recorded by Community Radio 4ZzZ102.1fm
Uranium Mining?
Queenslanders say NO!
A 2005 Morgan Newspoll showed that 70% of Australians are opposed to the development of any new uranium mines. Go to www.teambeattie.com to find your local Labor member and drop them a line. You can find a sample letter outlining the issues [here]
Sign up to the GetUp Climate Action Now!
[here] "With more than 15 million Australians of voting age, we're aiming for a
target of 250,000 people to help create a groundswell for change in every electorate across the country."