NSW:Orica regrets not contacting dept sooner

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2011
NSW:Orica regrets not contacting dept sooner

SYDNEY, Dec 7 AAP - Orica should not have waited two days to tell the NSW Health Department
about a chemical leak at one of its plants, a company representative has told an inquiry.

James Bonner, head of Orica's crisis management team, said he was charged with dealing
with the aftermath of the August 8 leak near Newcastle.

He told a NSW parliamentary inquiry in Sydney a decision was made on August 9 to carry
out a door-knocking campaign informing nearby Stockton residents.

"We chose this as it was a personalised and targeted approach," he said on Wednesday.

"We did not want to cause widespread or unnecessary public alarm.

"We were also keen to ensure the information shared was accurate and consistent."

Orica has come under fire for waiting until the day after the leak to notify the Office
of Environment and Heritage (OEH) of the leak, and waiting two days to notify NSW Health.

Mr Bonner said a decision was made during the August 9 meeting to inform the Health
Department about the door-knocking campaign, and therefore the leak, but this did not
happen until 11.15am the next day.

The inquiry heard an OEH official had asked if the Health Department had been notified
of the incident on Tuesday morning, but Mr Bonner said this was not considered to be a
direction.

"If Orica had been directed by the OEH to notify the NSW Ministry of Health ... I would
have ensured that without hesitation that this contact happened promptly," he said.

The Health Department was eventually informed after the OEH broached the issue again,
the inquiry heard.

"It is regrettable," Mr Bonner said.

"There was a lot going on ... we wish we had done it earlier."

The inquiry is continuing.

AAP ih/tr/psm/jmt

KEYWORD: ORICA

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