Defence Department dragging heels on oil cleanup, groups say

The Department of National Defence has failed to clean up oil spills on the former radar base in Sydney as promised, community groups say.

The 32-hectare property was taken over by a community development agency, New Dawn, in 1991. The single-storey duplexes in Pine Tree Park house low-income earners, including seniors andpeople with disabilities.

Three years ago, New Dawn discovered about 40 underground oil tanks, many of which were leaking. The group says even though the Defence Department removed the tanks, the oil contamination remains.

"It has been a very frustrating experience for us. The site is not fully cleaned at this stage," Steve Lilley, chairman of the New Dawn board, told CBC News.

Lilley said the department accepted responsibility for any contaminants at the site as a condition of the purchase agreement. Even so, New Dawn has spent about $75,000 on tests to determineif the homes are safe for occupancy.

Owen Fitzgerald, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, one of the groups demanding action, said they have been told there is no immediate health risk.

"But it still does endanger New Dawn's well-being and holds them back from making the important contribution they make in our community," he said.

Until the problem is resolved, New Dawn has decided to leave units empty as they become vacant. The department is covering the rents for empty homes.

Lilly said that in some cases, it might make more sense to tear down duplexes.

"For us, the simple solution is just look at the value of the homes and just cover us for the value of the homes. We'll put [residents]up somewhere else on the base where we know we have good, clean land, and we'll get on with our lives," Lilly said.

The community groups have asked the assistant deputy minister of the Department of National Defence, Cynthia Binnington, to meet with them by Sept. 6.

In a statement issued Friday, the department said it has agreed to meet with the chamber. It also said a study found 12 residences were affected by oil contamination, and it is doing a property appraisal to determine the next step.