Not near my playground: Mamre Anglican School headmaster Victor Branson (right), pictured with Penrith Councillor Prue Car, is concerned about radioactive waste being dumped four kilometres from the school. Picture: Gary Warrick
MORE and more hands are being raised to oppose plans to use Kemps Creek as a dumping ground for radioactive waste.
Mamre Anglican School parents have formed a schools consortium over fears for their children's health, should the state government go ahead with the plan.
The group has started approaching other nearby schools to work with the resident action group that has also been formed.
Recently released documents revealed plans to relocate 5000 tonnes of "radiologically impacted soil" from Hunters Hill to the SITA landfill site, as reported in last week's Star.
"I'm unhappy we're being used as a dumping ground for the rest of Sydney," said St Clair resident and the school's P & C vice-president, Catherine Wilson.
"We shouldn't be treated like second class citizens."
Mrs Wilson is concerned about a cancer cluster being linked to the radioactive waste.
"There are reports of people being affected 20 or 30 years down the track," she said.
"We want our children to grow up safely. This shouldn't be near residential areas. This is a big family-orientated area with lots of market gardens."
The group has the support of headmaster, Victor Branson, and Penrith councillor Prue Car.
"There are 10 waste facilities within [a] 10-kilometre radius, where we already had a few odour issues," Mr Branson said.
"The community lives in what should be a semi-rural community. I would plead with the government to keep their promise made before the election, when both sides promised it wouldn't happen."
Councillor Car has been inundated with concerns from residents and hopes to collect the 10,000 signatures needed to force a legislative debate.
Residents can sign the petition at nodumping.org.
Are you concerned? Comment at stmarysstar.com.au