QUESTION: Pollution in Port Kembla - 11 Jul 2007 NSW, Australia

Dear Editor

What is going on out here, as a new resident of the Port Kembla area I can't believe people put up with the fall out of this industrial site. Are we living in a third world country. When I woke up the last week there was black dust over everything in the back yard, the car looked like I'd been out bush for a week. No one in the street was bothered, the mentality was, well what do you expect. When I rang the EPA they basically said prove where it came from then you've got a case. How do we change the mentality of the people who live in the area and let them know that it is not acceptable and prevention is better than a cure

Greg

ANSWER: 11 Jul 2007

Dear Greg,

We apologise for having taken a long time to respond to your email. We have been under funded for some time and haven't had the resources to address a number of queries.

You had requested some advocacy help to sensitise other authorities in addition to those you had contacted. We suggest that you write a letter to the Minister for Environment stating the problem and also contact the Local Authority in your area. Mr Phil Koperberg is the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, NSW Legislative Assembly with effect from 2nd April 2007. Mr Koperberg's ministerial email address is office@koperberg.minister.nsw.gov.au

We have also learned that the EPA has changed its name to Department of Environment And Climate Change and they may have a new outlook on the issue.

Best regards,

Patrick Mugo Muraguri

Volunteer Information Officer