Greens MP demands probe after lead found in Broken Hill childcare soils

Soil sampling at thirteen childcare facilities in Broken one outlet identified lead concentrations above the 300 mg/kg guideline at ten locations. The NSW Environment Protection Agency notified the operators and proposed remediation, yet only four centres proceeded with the recommended actions. Greens MP and mining spokesperson Cate Faehrmann condemned the EPA for not directly alerting parents and urged a full inquiry into the agency’s testing and communication practices.

NSW Health chief Kerry Chant said the department was unaware of the results until reading about them in the press, although the EPA claims it kept health officials updated via an interagency working group. Broken Hill Mayor Tom Kennedy warned that many residential yards likely contain similar or higher lead levels, emphasizing the broader public-health risk for children.