Council pays for soil tests

Gosford Council has resolved to help the Killcare-based Walsingham community preschool by paying for soil contamination tests.

The proposed site for the school has been used as a dump site by council for nearly a quarter of a century.

Douglas Partners have been employed to investigate and report on the possible soil contamination of the site.

A request was recently made by the preschool, asking that council extend its offer of financial support to also cover the cost of the report in view of council's former usage of the site.

A recent council report stated that "soil contamination is prevalent on sites that have historic industrial or commercial use or where the land has been reclaimed through the use of fill material."

The report stated: "The proposed site was used by council for some years as a stockpile of road construction materials and would therefore be susceptible to soil contamination."

Council has contributed $9725 towards the soil contamination report.

Council agenda NM.5, March 1