At council meeting on Tuesday night, under ‘Councillor Questions’ Penhalluriack asked Newton a question related to the Glenhuntly mulch storage facility. In a long preamble to the actual question Penhalluriack outlined the following:
- Newton prides himself on correct ‘risk management’ procedures & policies.
- Scientific Consultants were called in to evaluate the public health risk at the Glen Huntly depot
- Part of their findings was that legionella ‘and fungi’ were presenting some risk to workers and the general public
- Several recommendations were made to reduce the risk – ie sprinklers, training, protective gloves/clothing, the importance of washing hands and signage alerting the public
The question asked of Newton had several parts:
- Why did Council ‘twice deny that there was any danger to the community’s health’ when he had twice asked about it
- Why did he have to go to the Audit committee and raise the question for a third time before anything was done?
- ‘why hasn’t (the report) been circulated to councillors?’
- Were areas ‘adjacent to the mulch bin’ also analysed such as the school, playground, car park areas?
- Penhalluriack also sought an explanation as to why it appears that none of the recommendations of the report have been carried out?
Newton took the question on Notice
COMMENTS: Penhalluriack’s question makes it abundantly clear that information within this Council is ‘filtered’ and that only a select few are privy to information that could have major repercussions on the entire community and council’s liability. We remind readers of the composition of the audit committee (especially Lipshutz). If the audit committee did have this information, then why wasn’t it distributed to all councillors according to best practice and council’s audit committee charter? Why does it take a councillor 3 requests before any response is forthcoming? Why does it take months and months for any remediation of what might potentially be a public health risk? And the most important question: Why the cover up?
Glen Eira Debates 
March 17, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Everyone of Glen Eira’s staff knew about this matter and I did to. This was raised by me on your site a month ago and the question that requires a reply is which Councillor sells fertiliser and will that Councillor benefit from the Glenhuntly Facility gaining bad publicity.The sooner this Councillor is tossed out and exposed the better it will be for Council. I hope the p-s weak Inspectors and possibly the Ombudsman are watching.
March 17, 2011 at 11:39 AM
gosh and double gosh. i hope they’re watching real closely too.If you knew so much about it then how come a proper test was only done after your councillor complained three times? Was Newton living on a wing and a prayer and hoping like hell that the whole issue would go away and that noone would be any the wiser? Then again, if all staff knew, then how come none of them are wearing protective masks and there are no warning signs there? Now that’s what I call real risk reduction – ignore what could be a death sentence to people. That’s leadership for you!
March 17, 2011 at 12:47 PM
When visiting the play area with children sometimes the odour is very strong. Does anyone think this would contain the dangerous gases? Do the teachers at the school know… the department of Ed. may be sued if children are affected by this gas!!
March 17, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Why is the mulch heap there anyway? Why hasn’t it been moved to a far more appropriate location away from playgrounds, car parks and schools? I’ve been there a few times and the mulch is piled sky high and spread all over the car park. I’ve never, ever seen any warning signs there about risks.
March 17, 2011 at 3:27 PM
Giving the Greens the balance of power is obviously more dangerous than any of us thought.
March 19, 2011 at 12:30 AM
Well I can beat everyone I have now had replies from three mayors assuring me that mulch is a fine ingredient to have in a park, near the youn childrens’ playgground, the sporting oval( where sportsmen practise deep breathing in their efforts to win games, the Glen Eira Secondary College and it is no worries!! I wonder how such consistency is being brought about???
Maybe we might be more efffective if we tell the horse trainers … how can they have such beautiful animals taking in these aerodynamic gases as they blow across the stables area to the south east of the mulch heap. The horses may catch Legionaires and pneumonia too and council may be sued if it is a valuable horse when mulch fungi moulds air are found in it’s lungs in the biopsy!! I hope for ratepayers’ sake it is not Toorak Toff as it could command a multi-million dollar payout!!!
March 19, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Well I can beat everyone I have now had replies from three mayors assuring me that mulch is a fine ingredient to have in a park, near the young childrens’ playgground, the sporting oval( where sportsmen practise deep breathing in their efforts to win games, the Glen Eira Secondary College and it is no worries!! I wonder how such consistency is being brought about???
Maybe we might be more efffective if we tell the horse trainers … how can they have such beautiful animals taking in these aerodynamic gases as they blow across the stables’ areas to the south and east of the mulch heap. The horses may catch Legionaires and pneumonia too and council may be sued if it is a valuable horse when mulch fungi moulds air are found in it’s lungs in the biopsy!! I hope for ratepayers’ sake it is not Toorak Toff as it could command a multi-million dollar payout!!!