WHILE waiting for test results on paint containing a potential 11 tonnes of lead on the ex-HMAS Adelaide, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal heard about possible effects of lead in the marine environment.
 
The Environmental Defender’s Office, acting for the No Ship Action Group, appealed the Federal Government’s granting of a Sea Dumping Permit in March.
 
The State Government will test the potential red lead-paint primer which could be on up to 21,000 sq m of ship interior and test results will be submitted to the tribunal on Wednesday.
 
US eco toxicologist Dr Peter deFur said the worst common adverse reaction to lead in humans and animals is that it damages the nervous system at incredibly low concentrations.
 
When it came to marine life, Dr deFur said lead caused abnormalities to fish including those to kidney function and gill function, and it particularly affected foetal eggs and larvae.

No Ship Barrister Nigel Cotman SC asked State Government witness and sea dumping permit adviser John Polglaze, about the five naval ships scuttled around Australia since 2001.
 
Barrister Cotman SC asked Mr Polglaze: “is it right to say the Adelaide is closer to the coast than all the other sites we have referred to?”
 
Mr Polglaze said yes, but when asked, said he did not consider the proximity significant.
 
The proposed site is 1.4 km from North Avoca beach and 1.73 km from Avoca Beach.
 
Mr Polglaze said he served at sea on the former HMAS Adelaide, while in his role assessing the Sea Dumping Permit application on behalf of Minister for the Environment Protection Peter Garrett, he boarded the ship four times.
 
Marine engineer Werner Hoyt, who flew out from the US on Monday and discovered the potential lead paint, said if the paint tested positive for lead, a project in terms of monitoring lead leaching into the sediment could need  between 100 and 200 years to see the full effects.
 
The tribunal asked Mr Hoyt, in the event there were high levels of contamination in sediment, what possible remediation was available.
 
Mr Hoyt said a hydraulic dredging process could be used, but most ecotoxicologists would say: “once it’s in the sediments don’t touch it.”
 
State Government evidence by project manager for the HMAS Adelaide Project David Coyle provided a rough cost estimate for recycling the warship, which could physically take place at Garden Island’s dry dock.
 
Conservatively it could cost about $2.85 million, he said, while about $771,200 could be recouped by selling the ship’s steel. This would leave a net cost of just over $2 million, according to Mr Coyle’s estimates.
 
Justice Downes said the hearing resumes Friday July 16 at the AAT, level 5, 55 Market St, Sydney.

 No Ship Action Group
 
 Media Inquiries http://noship.com.au
 
Ben Smith 0409 693 205,
 
Michelle Meares 0439 645 372