Wingecarribee Shire Council has announced an urgent upgrade of a local road following the discovery of hazardous materials beneath the road’s surface.
A report to Council detailed that ‘coal tar’ had been detected beneath the road pavement of Station Street in Bowral during construction activities as part of the multi-million upgrade of the roads in the area.
Previous tests undertaken prior to construction found no trace of the product, the Council said.
Coal tar is a byproduct of the production of coke and coal gas and a known carcinogen. When excavated and removed coal tar does not present any health and safety risks. However, the carcinogens can be ‘activated’ when exposed to extreme heat which can occur during construction activities such as pavement milling and bitumen laying.
“It is likely the source of the coal tar was from former industries that occupied the site decades ago,” Council said in a statement.
“In the interests of public safety, Council will excavate and remove the material rather than trying to reuse it on site and close the road in three sections to enable specialist contractors to excavate, remove and remediate the site.”
By employing this construction methodology, Council is aiming to keep the Station Street rehabilitation and upgrade on track for completion in time for reopening by the April Easter holidays.
“Council is committed to maintaining contact with affected business owners during construction and will provide regular updates across its communications channels,” it said.
An additional $2 million will be allocated from Council’s upcoming 2023/24 Capital Works Program to manage the hazardous materials.
