The Western Australian government has approved further funding to complete the lead contamination cleanup at the Esperance townsite.

Total funding for the project sits at almost $25 million, with the additional state government funding included at $5.8 million.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the initial funding allocated to the Esperance Cleanup and Recovery Project (ECRP) in 2009 was $15 million.

The latest funding was in addition to an extra $4 million spent in 2010-11, Mr Buswell said.

“We gave a commitment to carry out a comprehensive clean up, regardless of the cost, and the additional funding will ensure the finalisation of this project,” Mr Buswell said.

Fewer than 2000 dwellings in the affected area had detailed sampling, with the ECRP focusing on validation sampling to ensure cleaning had been effective and there was no re-contamination.

“Our ECRP team continues to ensure that all owners within the identified area of contamination have been provided with the opportunity to have their property sampled,” he said.

According to Mr Buswell, the cleaning of homes is expected to be complete late 2011 or early 2012, once validation is undertaken.

He said an independent audit will be conducted at the completion of the project to provide the community confidence that the project will work.
 

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