Luis Feliu
The Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt will visit the northern rivers tomorrow (Friday) to investigate land contamination at Gold Coast Airport and take locals’ concerns over its controversial runway expansion back to federal parliament.
Mr Bandt will meet with locals and community groups at 3pm at the Tweed Heads Pony Club in Parkes Drive, Tweed Heads West.
Those attending the meeting and site inspection include representatives from the Tweed Heads Residents Association, Save our Southern Beaches Alliance, as well as the north coast representative on the Ministerial Recreational Fishers NSW Advisory Council, Charlie Howe, and Greens candidate for Richmond, Dawn Walker.
During his visit, the MP will also take part as a guest speaker at the popular Politics in the Pub event at the Ocean Shores Tavern tomorrow (Friday) at 6pm.
He will also undertake a door-knock in Mullumbimby on Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
Opponents of the airport runway expansion plan recently called for an immediate halt to the plan after it was revealed toxic chemicals had contaminated the land on the NSW side of the border where a new instrument landing system (ILS) is set to be built.
The site has been used by Air Services Australia for fire training exercises using firefighting foam containing toxic chemicals.
The chamicals used have been blamed for contaminating land at Williamtown RAAF Base and Newcastle Airport, including an extensive area of groundwater systems and waterways, and found in fish downstream of them.
Campaigners against the Gold Coast airport runway extension say commercial fishing and oyster harvesting has been stopped in areas around the two Hunter Valley airports and warnings issued over the use of water and some food products.
(See our previous story at https://www.echo.net.au/2016/03/gold-coast-airport-expansion-site-contaminated/)
