This was published 5 years ago
Toxic sludge at Berry's Bay
Sludge on the floor of Sydney Harbour to be dug up during construction of a new harbour tunnel contains alarming levels of toxins, including a “gender bending” chemical that caused female sea snails to grow male sex organs. A confidential report shows some of the sludge contains cancer-causing pollutants up to 20 times the safe level for aquatic life, and a banned chemical at 572 times the safe level.
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View of Berry Bay in Waverton, Sydney.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
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The contamination readings have also caused apprehension among members of the Balmain Sailing Club. Race director Alan Gregory said the club was confident in the expertise of the government’s consultants, but was hoping for independent advice on health risks. Children regularly capsized while learning to sail in dinghies and the club relied on divers to clean the underside of yachts, Mr Gregory said.Credit:Louie Douvis
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Berry Bay, Sydney. There are fears that a new harbour tunnel may dredge up toxic material from the floor of the bay.Credit:Nick Moir
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Berry's Bay showing BP storage silos. September 19, 1961.Credit:Fairfax Media
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View of Berry Bay in Waverton, Sydney.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
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Local Serge Rey starts his dinghy motor at Berry Bay. There are fears that a new harbour tunnel may dredge up toxic material from the floor of the bay.Credit:Nick Moir
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Managing Director of Crib Paint Engineering in Victoria, Mr. Lionel Banks and son Ted Banks arrived from Melbourne to help with a cleaning job at Berry's Bay, aboard the Skimmer - Clean Sweep. A number of workers, vessels and pumps cleaned heavy oiled waters at Berry's Bay where oil from BP storage leaked into the bay. December 15, 1973.Credit:Antonin Cermak
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Berry Bay, Sydney. There are fears that a new harbour tunnel may dredge up toxic material from the floor of the bay. Credit:Nick Moir
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David Armstrong testing the oxygen content of the water in Berry's Bay. A group of boys from Shore school took part in a big clean-up along the foreshores of Berry's Bay. The boys gathered all the tin cans on the bench and also took readings on the pollution in the water. May 27, 1972.Credit:Kevin John Berry
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View of Berry Bay in Waverton, Sydney.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
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View of Berry Bay in Waverton, Sydney.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
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A shipyard and a pleasure craft marina were put out of action when oil, from a nearby oil company, polluted hundreds of square yards water in Berry's Bay, Waverton. December 14, 1973.Credit:Adrian Greer Michael Short
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Berry Bay, Sydney. There are fears that a new harbour tunnel may dredge up toxic material from the floor of the bay.Credit:Nick Moir
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A shipyard and a pleasure craft marina were put out of action when oil, from a nearby oil company, polluted hundreds of square yards water in Berry's Bay, Waverton. December 14, 1973.Credit:Adrian Greer Michael Short/Fairfax Media
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Berry Bay, Sydney. There are fears that a new harbour tunnel may dredge up toxic material from the floor of the bay.Credit:Nick Moir
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Two yachts tied up at a wharf in Berry's Bay, Sydney, ca. 1930s.Credit:Fairfax Media
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View of Berry Bay in Waverton, Sydney.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
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A fire-float disperses oil spillage in Berry's Bay. December 15, 1973.Credit:Fairfax Media
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Mr Don Groom at his boat yard in Berry's Bay which is about to close and be redeveloped as apartments. January 2, 1993. Credit:Patrick Cummins
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View of Berry Bay in Waverton, Sydney.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer