The Hill: HAZMAT clothing required

By Andrew Wood, Convenor Blue Wren Subcommittee, Bulletin 6/2023, August

Last year, the Society was awarded an Innovation and Ideas Grant by the City entitled ‘Glebe’s Hill – unravelling its biodiversity secrets and potential’.  We are still, however, waiting for the City to issue a Licensing Agreement so that work can commence on the Grant. The President, members of the Blue Wren Subcommittee and Professor Hochuli from the University of Sydney met with the City Council in the Green Room at Town Hall House at 11am on Wednesday 28 June. The City was represented by James Macnamara (Grant Liaison Officer), Michael Szczepanski (Properties) and Cailin Martin (Property Strategy Planner). We were seeking an answer to the following question: Can the University of Sydney access the proposed five sites in the local government area (LGA) for the placement of wildlife monitors and to perform walk-throughs to study urban fauna and flora? 

The City had already agreed that the University could access the following four sites: Federal Park (which contains the salt marsh), Orphan School Creek Park and two sites in Sydney Park. Difficulties remain, however, with Glebe’s Hill as it is contaminated with asbestos and lead and is not accessible to the public – anyone entering the site must wear full protective (HAZMAT) clothing. The walkway, which is a designated road, between the Hill and the Tramsheds, has no restrictions on access. The City has asked the University to: “pinpoint” the proposed location of its monitors on a map of the eastern and western ends of the walkway and to provide details of the equipment to be used; the dates of installation and de-installation; the dates and frequency of access; and confirmation of the process, for example, the use of ladders and the use of cable ties to ensure no damage to trees.

The Society has requested that the City include the following paragraph in the Licensing Agreement: 

Should the University of Sydney find that its initial wildlife observations of Glebe’s Hill (made from the walkway between the Hill and the Tramsheds) are unsatisfactory, it may seek permission from the Council to use the services of an individual who holds a NSW Government’s Asbestos Assessor Licence to install and remove further wildlife monitoring devices directly on Glebe’s Hill.

Notice of the proposed Licensing Agreement will be advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald and for 28 days on the City’s ‘Sydney Your Say’ website. It is planned that the Agreement will be ready for the Society’s signature in September 2023 from which time the University will be able to commence its observations of the five LGA sites, including Glebe’s Hill.