'Dangerous toxins' fear for families
'Dangerous toxins' fear for families
Families in Cabramatta fear their children may have been exposed to dangerous toxins from a sewage pumping station, next to a football ground.
The club wants the treatment facility moved, but Sydney Water says it is critical infrastructure for the surrounding area.
Around 600 children use the grounds at Cabramatta Football Club every week, playing in the shadow of a Sydney Water pumping station.
Raw sewage and trade waste go through the station and Paul Fox, of the footy club, said: “This is not just the club talking about this, this is this whole community.
“We are outraged that this is still here."
In a power failure or flood, the grounds can become inundated.
Jamal Kodat, a coach at the club, suspects a rash his newphew is suffering from may have come from contamination.
He said: “I don't want my son and nephews playing in this.
“They've got a future ahead of them. Not around this they don't."
Sydney Water says it will carry out its own testing. It is also spending big money not to move the station, but to try to improve it.
Chris O’Brien, from Sydney Water, said: "We’re looking at new pumps, new switches, new transformers and we are re going to be putting in a generator."
The club says that $5 million upgrade does not go anywhere near enough towards addressing their concerns over this pumping station.
Sydney Water says moving it somewhere else will cost $30m, and is also a five-year job.
