By KATH GANNAWAY
YARRA Ranges firefighter Mick Tisbury has commended the State Government on closing the CFA’s Fiskville training facility for good.
Minister for Emergency Services, Jane Garrett, announced the closure on Thursday, 26 March, following tests that showed high levels of the toxic chemical PROS around the fire training area and in an area where the chemical had not been previously detected.
The CFA board unanimously recommended the closure after receiving the most recent results of more than 500 tests.
The Mail reported earlier in March that Mr Tisbury, an MFB firefighter and executive member of the United Firefighters’ Union, had been pushing for a thorough investigation into the use of toxic materials and water contamination for three years.
He welcomed the temporary closure of Fiskville at the time, but last week expressed relief that the government had acted decisively and quickly on the latest test results.
Those results did show that the drinking water and showers were clear of contamination, but that other areas were not.
A statement from the Minister’s office said tests showed the PFOS levels ranged from less than 1 microgram per litre to as high as 50 micrograms per litre against international guidelines for safe levels of the chemical in drinking water of 0.2 micrograms, and 4 micrograms for non-drinking water.
Minister Garrett said despite previous clean-ups, Fiskville remained a dangerous site which could no longer operate safely.
She said the closure marked the end of a ‘dark chapter’ in Victoria’s fire-fighting services.
“While we are relieved that the drinking water is safe, the ongoing discovery of contamination at Fiskville means it can no longer operate as a training ground,” she said.
Mr Tisbury said he had expected permanent closure, but was surprised that the decision had been made while the Parliamentary Inquiry into Fiskville was underway.
“I wasn’t privilege to the test results that came back at such a high level, but they didn’t surprise me. I’ve seen others that were even higher,” he said.
He commended the government, saying they had put the lives of peple ahead of other interests.
“This government has acted quickly, and correctly.
“I am sure that once people start hearing and seeing the evidence (to the inquiry) they will be thankful for this government for doing what the previous government should have done,” he said.
Submissions to the inquiry closed last week and hearings are scheduled to start in May.
