BY TYLER FARDELL

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington has expressed her disappointment in Port Stephens council for their handling of a diesel leak, which has impacted the Hunter River and Boomerang Park in Raymond Terrace.

In mid-December, a diesel slick was spotted in the Hunter River at Raymond Terrace.

The leak was then traced to the Raymond Terrace council depot where the diesel had drained into Boomerang park.

The EPA then issued a clean-up order to council but a second incident at the Depot worsened the situation.

Council has since fenced off a section of Boomerang Park, two weeks after the spill was spotted.

“There are stringent regulations around the storage of diesel. It’s clear that there has been a failure of systems.”

However Port Stephens Council group manager for facilities and services Greg Kable has defended the decision to fence off the park, saying it was just a precaution.

He also added the situation is under control and everything should be back to normal within a fortnight.



Boomerang park

Source; Port Stephens Examiner