MCU15/0095 & REC15/0022 PM Submission Object - Maree Burgess

precautionary       principle and consider the possible risks to make a decision that is not in any way harmful.
In the absence of scientific consensus that the Development                      is not harmful, the burden of proof that it is
not harmful falls on the Developer and the Property Owner. Neither has satisfied that burden of proof.


Emissions from           petrol   stations    are widely     acknowledged        to contain     compounds         harmful     to health,
including,     toluene,     xylenes; and benzene which is a known                  health risk and carcinogen.              Exposure to
emissions from           petrol   stations    has been shown to be associated                with    increased    risks of childhood
leukaemia, independent              of other risk factors"


A Spanish study published              in the US Journal of Environmental           Management          in December 2010' shows
that emissions from evaporated                 petrol or fuel, generally when petrol is being transferred                   or has been
spilt, contaminates         the surrounding       area with volatile materials, including the carcinogen benzene.                      This
means that the atmosphere               in the immediate       vicinity of service stations can be contaminated                   up to SO
metres away.            The study recommends            that a minimum       distance of SO metres should be maintained
between        petrol    stations    and housing,       and 100 metres       for "especially        vulnerable"     facilities    such as
hospitals, health centres, schools and old people's homes.


 In 2014, Dr Ian Francis Musgrave,                Lecturer in Pharmacology,          University      of Adelaide, referred          to the
Spanish Study stating that the radius of significant levels of hydrocarbons                         of concern was of the order of
approximately           75m from the station.          For example the levels of benzene at 7S meters were 4 ~g/m3,
which is 2S% of the EPA yearly exposure limit of 16 ~g/m3.


Professor Lidia Morawska              at QUT has been conducting            studies in Brisbane into the health effects of
exposure of children to airborne nano and ultrafine                   particles (UFP) emitted         from motor vehicles. Owing
to their small size, UFPs are able to penetrate                     deep into the lungs, where they may cause adverse
respiratory,     pulmonary        and cardiovascular       health effects. Her studies show that the impact is significant
and visible. In addition to the emissions from vehicles in the service station, the proposed Development
will generate more traffic in and around the School. These emission sources are in such close proximity
to the school that they pose and unacceptable                  increased health risk to this vulnerable             population      group
of school students.


The Western Australian              Environmental      Protection    Authority   (WAEPA) in its policy document,                 Guideline
for the Assessment          of Environmental        Factors, recommended         separation distances for Industrial Residual
Air Emissions of 200 meters                  between     a service station       operating     24 hours a day and a school.
"Separation       distance" is defined to be the shortest distance between the boundary of the service station
and the School.


The subject Property directly adjoins the School's 14m toddler outdoor                          pool and the 25m outdoor              pool
used by all age groups. The fuel bowsers on the proposed development                                 are dangerously        close to the
Pool facilities     being no more than an estimated                 30 meters from the outdoor             toddler     pool. The pool
facilities,   apart from constant            school use, are utilised all year round by the School's associated Swim


6 see e.g. C Steffen et al 2004 -
                               "Acute chifdhood leukaemia and environmental exposure to potential sources of
  benzene and other hydrocarbons; a case-control study" and many other similar studies showing adverse effects
  particularly on young growing bodies.
7 TerrE~set al




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