Nuclear and Indigenous Items of Interest: ABC drops new site after radioactivity fears

Monday, July 7, 2008

ABC drops new site after radioactivity fears

ABC drops new site after radioactivity fears

PM - Monday, 7 July , 2008 18:46:00
Reporter: Donna Field
MARK COLVIN: The ABC has abandoned plans to build its new Queensland headquarters at a site in Brisbane after discovering the possibility of radioactive contamination.

A year and a half ago, the national broadcaster had to abandon its Queensland headquarters at Toowong, because of a breast cancer cluster among staff.

Since then, staff have been working from several temporary locations.

The managing director Mark Scott says today's decision to terminate the contract for the purchase of land at Newstead was not made lightly, but the health and wellbeing of staff was the overriding priority.

Donna Field reports.

DONNA FIELD: The ABC in Queensland has been without a permanent home for a year and a half, after a breast cancer cluster forced the closure of its Toowong studios.

Since then, the national broadcaster has been searching for a new home in Brisbane. Last November, WATPAC Property announced it had secured one of the most prestigious and highly sought after tenancies available in the market.

The ABC had agreed to buy about 3,800 square metres of land at inner-city Newstead. But today, ABC managing director Mark Scott released a statement to staff explaining why the building won't be going ahead.

He said:

(Extract from ABC statement)

READER: Recently, following completion of site remediation work, the ABC discovered the possibility of radioactive contamination affecting parts of the site. Further investigation revealed elevated levels of radiation above the naturally occurring background levels.

The existence of any elevated levels of radiation is of great concern to the ABC. The breast cancer cluster amongst staff who worked at the former ABC studios at Toowong and the evacuation of those studios as a result of those health concerns, is well known.

DONNA FIELD: The ABC has terminated the contract of sale on the Newstead land, and started action in the Supreme Court in Queensland. The developer WATPAC says it will fight the action.

Managing director Greg Kempton says the ABC's decision came as a surprise because the sit now meets very tough environmental standards.

GREG KEMPTON: The contract was subject to a number of conditions, including a lengthy due diligence period in favour if the ABC. And removal of the fenced site from the environmental management registrar. The sale site was removed from the environmental management registrar on the 30 June 2008 and certified by the environmental protection agency as suitable for any use, which is the highest classification.

Furthermore, Qld Health, known as Radiation Health, in their letter to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), certified that the sale site has been successfully remediated. The contract is now unconditional and WATPAC regards the ABC as being breach of their contractual obligations.

DONNA FIELD: The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has welcomed the ABC's decision to abandon the Newstead site.

Spokeswoman, Michelle Rae.

MICHELLE RAE: Obviously, for the Alliance, the welfare of staff is paramount. So we find it very encouraging to hear that the ABC is taking serious, the advice they've received on this analysis. And what we hope is that they can resolve their long-term accommodation issues as soon as possible, but always maintain staff health and safety as a priority.

DONNA FIELD: Ms Rae says today's announcement will likely delay a permanent home for the ABC in Queensland and the union will be meeting members to gauge their reactions to that.

MICHELLE RAE: One of the things that we're concerned about is that these were always meant to be interim, and now that Newstead is not going to happen, it's becoming more of a permanent fixture. So we want to actually talk to members and actually start to resolve some of the issues that they may be facing.

DONNA FIELD: The ABC says it will start identifying alternate sites immediately. But the executive director of the Property Council of Australia, Steve Greenwood, says that may prove difficult.

STEVE GREENWOOD: Look, there's no doubt about it that the market in Brisbane are, for commercial and industrial sites, are very tight at the moment. There's no doubt about that. And as a result, cost of acquiring that land is, it's increasing. So if the ABC does pull out of this deal, it's going to have a bit of a challenge on it hands at wanting another suitable site, that's for sure.

MARK COLVIN: Steve Greenwood, executive director of the Property Council of Australia, ending Donna Field's report.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Public Statement by Corbin's Immediate Family

July 10, 2007 (TurtleIsland). Corbin Harney Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone Nation crossed over at 11:00 a.m. this morning in a house on a sacred mountain near Santa Rosa, CA (Turtle Island). He had dedicated his life to fighting the nuclear testing and dumping.

That battle claimed his life through cancer.

According to witnesses present, in the morning fog, the spirits of four Shoshone dog soldiers were outside on horseback before Corbin’s passing. But then one of the Shoshone present, Santiago Lozada, yelled “Tosawi Tosawi!” (White Knife). And then the fog shifted and there were thousands of spirits waiting.

Corbin passed peacefully at the end. He was only worried that he still had more to do. When he finally let go and went with the dog soldiers, Red Wolf Pope, grandson of Rolling Thunder, was present and sang him the Tosawi death song to call the dog soldiers to come take him home. Golden eagles continue to circle the house hours after his crossing.”

True to form Corbin joked around several days ago that he was going to go at 11:00, and kept his promise.

Over his lifetime, Corbin traveled around the world as a speaker, healer and spiritual leader with a profound spiritual and environmental message for all. He received numerous national and international awards and spoke before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Corbin also authored two books: “The Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Earth” (Blue Dolphin Publishing, 1995) and a forthcoming book, “The Nature Way”. Numerous documentaries have been made about his work and message.

In 1994, Corbin established the Shundahai Network to work with people and organizations to respond to spiritual and environmental concerns on nuclear issues. He also established Poo Ha Bah, a native healing center located in Tecopa Springs, California. He will be missed but always honored for his work and dedication to traditional ways.

Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe (Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their knowledge in his lifetime.

Corbin is survived by his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie Blossom’s family and many cousins and other family members as well as many, many friends around the world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter, cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia Davidson, Corbin’s caregiver in his final months; Dominic Daileda, Corbin’s friend and companion for his support and compassion in hard times, and the family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his family and friends during his time of need.

Dates and times for services are being made with official announcement to follow. Three day services are planned at the home of Larson R. Bill, So Ho Bee – Newe Sogobe (Lee, Nevada –Western Shoshone Territory) with burial services at Battle Mountain Indian Community, Battle Mountain Nevada.