Independent monitoring committee

Orica acknowledges the community's desire and need to have independent expert advice on a range of technical issues associated with the Groundwater Treatment Plant (GTP) and its operations.

In response to community feedback, Orica made a commitment at the time of development of the Environmental Impact Statement for the GTP to establish an independent body to monitor the operations of the GTP. Orica's commitment is formalised in condition E6.1 of Orica's Environment Protection Licence as follows:  

‘The licensee must service an Independent Monitoring Committee with technical and community representatives relating to the Groundwater Treatment Plant and its operation. The licensee must provide monitoring information and reports and consult with this Committee as required by the relevant conditions of this licence.'

The overarching objective for the Independent Monitoring Committee (IMC) is to satisfy the above conditions of Orica's Environment Protection Licence by providing expert appraisal of the progress and performance of Orica's GTP and its operations. Over the years it has provided technical guidance to the community through the Botany Groundwater Community Liaison Committee (CLC) and the Orica Botany Liaison Committee (OBLC).

The IMC Terms of Reference (PDF 30.1KB) were first developed in 2005, then revised in 2010, 2015 and updated in 2016.

Members

Current Members

• Professor Denis M. O'Carroll - expertise in hydrogeology

Past Members

• Dr John McCracken - expertise in process engineering
• Prof. Ian Acworth - expertise in hydrogeology
• Prof. Brian Priestly - expertise in human health risk assessment  
• Dr Mark Hibberd - expertise in air modelling
• Associate Professor Bryce Kelly - expertise in hydrogeology
• Dr Chris Clunies-Ross - expertise in dioxins

Reports and activities

The IMC has prepared reports or provided feedback on the following topics:

• 19 November 2024 - IMC Task 37 - Professor O'Carroll to provide his opinion on whether the conclusions of the Strategy Review Workshop Report reflect the outcomes of the workshop (PDF 1.1MB)
• 11 July 2023 - IMC Task 35 - Video presentation Prof. Denis O'Carroll  (MP4 157.9MB)- Review how the results in the updated mass estimate report may have a bearing on the commentary in the Conceptual Site Model. Following this presentation, a technical meeting was convened to further discuss the revised contaminant mass estimate report - view meeting minutes (PDF 115KB).
• 12 April 2022 - IMC Task 34 - April 2022 OBLC meeting recording (MP4 200MB)
  April 2022 - IMC Task No. 34 - Prof. Denis O'Carroll -  Concise report on the likely trends in contaminant concentrations, and potential fluxes, in the coming decades (PDF 6.6MB)
• Nov 2021 - IMC Task No 34 - Prof. Denis O'Carroll - Form an opinion on the likely trends in contaminant concentrations, and potential fluxes, in the coming decades (PDF 2.3MB)
• Mar 2021 - Full version video - Highlights and Thoughts related to 2020 Strategy Review Workshop prepared by Professor Denis O'Carroll
• Nov 2020 - Short video Highlights and Thoughts related to 2020 Strategy Review Workshop prepared by Professor Denis O'Carroll
• Nov 2019 - Short video on the Botany Groundwater Cleanup Project prepared by Professor Denis O'Carroll
  20 Nov 2017-  Work schedule for activites from the 2017 Strategy Review Report and feedback from Denis O'Carroll (PDF 539.4KB)
• 25 Mar 2011 - Review Updated Consolidated Human Health Risk Assessment (PDF 114.5KB)
• 15 Mar 2011 - Feedback on the 2011 Groundwater Strategy Review Workshop (PDF 15.5KB)
• 10 Jun 2010 - Review FCAP Human Health and Environmental Risk Assessment (PDF 241KB)
• 9 Sep 2009 - Orica's Response to DECC's Recommendations Based on Dr McCracken's Review & Reply from DECC on the Scans Conducted (PDF 453.1KB)
• 7 Sep 2009 – Review Potential Health Risks Associated with DEAC Waste Treatment (PDF 124.7KB)
• 12 Sep 2008 - Review of Dr McCraken's Review of Monitorings Conducted at the GTP (PDF 1.1MB)
• 19 May 2008 – Report on Dioxin Formation Investigation (PDF 96.3KB)
• 26 Feb 2008 - Evaluation of Current Monitoring Programs Conducted at the GTP (PDF 258.7KB)
• 26 Oct 2007 – Advise on Potential Health Risks Associated with Washing Fish at Penrhyn Estuary (PDF 77.6KB)
• 26 Sep 2007 – Dr Clunies-Ross Feedback on Dioxin Monitoring & Thermal Oxidiser Reduced Temperature Trial (PDF 74.2KB)
• 13 Sep 2007 – Dr Hibberd’s Feedback on Dioxin Monitoring (PDF 27.5KB)
• 7 Sep 2007 - Dr Clunies-Ross Feedback on Dioxin Monitoring (PDF 79.8KB)
• 7 Sep 2007- Dioxin investigation Progress update (PDF 79.8KB)
• 18 Jul 2007 – Discussion Paper on Groundwater Monitoring South of the Secondary Containment Area (SCA) (PDF 19.6KB)
• 12 Jun 2007 – Scope of Dioxin Formation Investigation (PDF 25KB)
• 2 May 2007 – Prof Priestly Views on Orica’s Progress (PDF 112.8KB)
• 27 Apr 2007 – Dr Clunies-Ross Views on Oricas Progress (PDF 24.4KB)
• 27 Apr 2007 – Dr Hibberd Views on Orica’s Progress (PDF 34.9KB)
• 20 Apr 2007 – Prof Ackworth Views on Orica’s Progress (PDF 296.8KB)
• 20 Apr 2007 – Dr McCracken Views on Orica’s Progress (PDF 80.6KB)
• 3 Nov 2006 - A Response to Groundwater Modelling / Monitoring and Saline Intrusion Tasks by Prof Acworth (PDF 1.2MB) 
  • Hydraulic Containment Explanation (PDF 42.4KB)
  • Saline Intrusion Explanation (PDF 57KB)
  • Map showing Orica's groundwater and ecological monitoring locations south of the secondary containment area (PDF 558.4KB)
  • Review by Orica's consultants, URS, 1 November, 2006  (PDF 1.6MB)
• 26 Oct 2006 – Dioxin Toxicity Summary (PDF 38.8KB)
• 30 Aug 2006 – Dioxin and Human Health Paper (PDF 107.3KB)
• 29 Aug 2006 – Review on Potential for Salt Water Intrusion at Secondary Containment Line (PDF 142KB)
• 28 Aug 2006 – Review on Effects of Groundwater Abstraction in Botany  (PDF 233.9KB)
• 28 Aug 2006 – Groundwater Model Review (PDF 86.9KB) 
  • Attachment A - Botany Aquifer Levels in 1942 (PDF 76.4KB)
  • Attachment B - Botany Aquifer Levels in 1969 (PDF 75.1KB)
  • Attachment C - Botany Aquifer Levels in 1979 (PDF 73.7KB)
  • Attachment D - Botany Aquifer Levels in 1986 (PDF 68.8KB)
     
• 4 Jun 2006 – Dioxin Monitoring (PDF 52.5KB)