Floods would have sent choking plugs of puddler’s sludge down the creek – historian
A PROMINENT Bendigo historian has warned against complacency about possible high heavy metal levels at the new Huntly Recreation reserve. In January, the Bendigo Weekly revealed the City of Greater Bendigo council had not done any heavy metal testing before constructing the new sporting grounds. That was despite anecdotal and historical evidence of high arsenic levels in the nearby soil as a result of historical mining activity. Council’s presentation and assets director Jos Duivenvoorden said there was no evidence to suggest heavy metal levels would be higher than elsewhere, and even if they were, the cost of removing it could outweigh the benefits. Dr Geoff Russell is a former La Trobe University lecturer and has written many books and papers on the history of the area. He told the Weekly the area surrounding the new recreation reserve could contain more than just arsenic. “Numerous heavy floods in Bendigo’s history would have also sent choking plugs of puddlers’ sludge down the Bendigo Creek, flooding out over the flatter expanses around Epsom, near the present-day sewerage works (next to the sporting grounds),” he said. “Certainly this sludge would have contained mercury, a favourite additive used to amalgamate fine gold particles in crushed ore. “Arsenic may have also washed down and settled on the farmland there, as an escaped by-product of later tailings dump processing, popular across the Bendigo field in the first half of the 20th century. “It’s an unfortunate legacy we inherit from our mining past, and one that we need to manage very carefully – especially around children, and our food production areas.” Dr Russell said the area had a heavy mining past. “Goldmining commenced around the White Hills area of Bendigo as early as late 1852, and continued in that area and along the Bendigo Creek, north of the field, well into the late 1800s,” he said. “By the early 1860s there were significant shallow deep-lead mines at Epsom and Huntly, and these flourished once water was laid on to those areas with the construction of the two Grassy Flat Reservoirs (now know as Kennington Reservoir and the filled-in sporting field below it), and the connecting channel from Grassy Flat north to the Huntly and Epsom fields. “Today we can still see mullock heaps all along the highway there, heading north to Echuca, as evidence of shallow mining. “
The mercury is almost certainly from fertilizer used by market gardeners. Not that long ago most of the Epsom area was market gardens. Why? Well it was the best soil in the Bendigo area. Still is. Grew the best tomatoes in Australia. The soil is ideal for a sports ground. Probably too good. The small amount of arsenic & mercury is of no concern. Certainly never was with the market gardeners or anyone else. Until the EHAG whingers got their backs up with council. Can you whingers forget the soil problem. It's not an issue.
Comment #2
(Posted by Drovers Dog)
The mercury is almost certainly from fertilizer used by market gardeners. Not that long ago most of the Epsom area was market gardens. Why? Well it was the best soil in the Bendigo area. Still is. Grew the best tomatoes in Australia. The soil is ideal for a sports ground. Probably too good. The small amount of arsenic & mercury is of no concern. Certainly never was with the market gardeners or anyone else. Until the EHAG whingers got their backs up with council. Can you whingers forget the soil problem. It's not an issue.
Comment #3
(Posted by Drover)
It is a matter of concern. The soil contains asbestos in different forms. Check it out with the council as they are removing the top soil. Now they are conducting more tests; all of which should have taken place before the land purchase. Now it is costing ratepayers more money and they will not be told how much. It's nothing to do with EHAG whatever that is. It might be better to be a whinger that ignorant and sorry. Seems the dog is pushing its own agenda.
Comment #4
(Posted by Richard Young)
The drover doesn't know what EHAG is? What Planet has he been on for the last 3 years?
