Homebush Bay is 12 kilometres from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and flows into the Parramatta River. From the earliest days of Sydney's industrial development Homebush Bay has been the site of some of Australia's most polluting industries. The bay was originally envisaged as the "Gateway" to the 2000 Olympic Games, until the full extent of contamination was realised.

Timbrol Ltd established operations at Rhodes in 1928 and after World War II established a chlor-alkali plant on the site for the manufacture of a range of organochlorine chemicals, including DDT, hexachlorobenzene, dichlorobenzenes, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T.

In 1957 the multinational chemical giant Union Carbide purchased Timbrol Ltd and continued chemical production at the site until 1985. From 1957 to 1976 Union Carbide continued production of the chlorinated herbicides 2,4-D and 2,4,5,-T, the two chemicals which make up the infamous Agent Orange used in the Vietnam War. Union Carbide abandoned Australia and its toxic legacy in the early 1990s.

Polychlorinated dioxins and furans (often simply referred to as dioxins), are produced as byproducts during the production of organochlorines, such as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. Large areas of the Rhodes Peninsula were reclaimed from the bay using solid wastes from the Union Carbide factory as the primary fill material. The wastes were heavily contaminated with a wide range of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxins, organochlorine pesticides (DDT, DDE, DDD), and chlorinated phenoxy and aliphatic compounds. Together with the very real likelihood of direct discharge of pollutants via the Union Carbide stormwater system over decades, Homebush Bay is now one of the most contaminated waterways in the world.

In June 1997 Greenpeace investigations revealed an orphaned stockpile of thirty six, 200 litre drums, and fifteen, 50 litre drums of highly dioxin contaminated waste adjacent to the former Union Carbide factory site.

Results of sampling from the stockpile were alarming. The analysis found that the waste contained 98.1 ng/g of 2,3,7,8 TCDD (108 ng/g I-TEQ), which is consistent with residues and wastes from pesticide 2,4,5- T manufactured by Union Carbide Australia Limited up until the late 1970s. The NSW Government were unaware of the existence of the stockpile, in fact denied its existence in correspondence with Greenpeace [Gorta 1997].

Greenpeace sampling of fish from Homebush Bay found high levels of dioxin in the food chain. Two Sea Mullet were found to have 252 and 345 pg/g I-TEQ of the most toxic form of dioxin 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The samples of fish from Homebush Bay were over three hundred times higher than levels reported in fish fillets from Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne and are the highest recorded dioxin contaminated fish in Australia.

Earlier studies of Homebush Bay highlighted the extent of the contamination and a fishing ban is in place. Sediment sampling carried out between 1987 and 1990 found levels of dioxins over 550 ng/g I-TEQ.
[EPA 1996]

Due to the state of the stockpile and indifference from state authorities, Greenpeace decided to act. In June 1997, a specially trained team of 10 Greenpeace operatives in full chemical protection gear transferred the stockpile of 69 rusting drums containing dioxin waste to emergency secure storage containers [Greenpeace Australia, 1997]. At first the Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Pam Allan, was critical of the Greenpeace action. Later, she wrote to the NSW Premier and indicated that the EPA was, "satisfied that the repackaging and storage undertaken by Greenpeace on that day provides adequate protection of human health and the environment."

Two weeks after the stockpile was safely secured, the NSW government announced a commitment of AUD21 million to provide a safe clean bay for the people of New South Wales and the eyes of the world in the year 2000. The commitment was to remove and treat the dioxin contaminated soil and sediments using non-incineration based treatment technologies. In addition, property owners Bankers Trust announced a commitment to remediate the old Allied Feeds site on which the dioxin stockpile was found.

Unfortunately, two years later the timeline has slipped and any hope of cleaning up the bay before the 2000 Olympic Games is rapidly receding. In May 1999 the NSW Government called for Expressions of Interest from companies for the remediation of the bay and land. It is possible that a tender will be chosen by early 2000, however work is not programmed to commence until after the Sydney 2000 Olympics in January 2001.

Homebush Bay is one of the most polluted waterways in the world. Greenpeace believes that Union Carbide must be held responsible for the mess they have created in Homebush Bay. They have shown a disregard for the environment, and the health and safety of the people of NSW.


*LATEST* 08/2000: No deadline set for clean up as Games approach
NSW Government to proceed with publicly open and transparent tender process to select extent and style of clean-up of Homebush Bay to ensure that the area is safe for future community development of the area.

Union Carbide to accept responsibility for the massive dioxin pollution it has caused in Homebush Bay and reimburse the people of NSW for the costs of remediation.


Greenpeace Australia, Special Dioxin Report, June 1997

Gorta, M. Manager Chemicals Policy, NSW EPA, letter to M. Ruchel, Greenpeace Australia, 4 April 1997.

EPA File CH2012/9, Report: draft Homebush Bay Screening Level Risk Assessment prepared for Office of Marine Safety and Port Strategy, by Parametrix Inc and AWT Ensight., March 1996.