The environmental reports of over 100 sites, including 24 early childhood education centres, are alleged to have been falsified by an environmental consulting firm, the Environmental Protection Authority says.
The NSW EPA today said it was investigating claims that environmental consultant Noel Child (of N G Child & Associates) falsified the sample results of 135 different sites across 33 councils when they were still in the development stage.
Currently, 24 of those sites are operating as preschools. The EPA says there are no immediate risks to public health and there is no history of contamination or exposure pathways that could affect people’s health.
A full list of sites is included below.
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The full list of affected preschools:
Greenwood, ArtarmonOnly About Children Artarmon, ArtarmonLittle Learners Academy – Care for Kids, AustralBluey’s Treehouse – Kindicare, AvalonPaisley Park Early Learning Centre, BrookvaleOnly About Children, CaringbahRaising Stars Five Dock Early Learning Centre, Five DockGoodstart Early Learning, GladesvilleMini Masterminds Glenwood (previous block is Meurants Lane, address now 9 Wardia St, Glenwood), GlenwoodGreat Beginnings, Hornsby, HornsbyStorey Park Community Centre Playground, HornsbyIngleburn Montessori Academy Early Learning Centre, IngleburnPebbles Early Learning Childcare, KingswoodOrchard Early Learning Centre Kirawee, KirraweeKirrawee Montessori Academy Childcare Centre, KirraweeOnly About Children, Macquarie ParkLittle Zak’s Academy – Care for Kids, Narellan ValeWhiz Kidz ELC and Preschool, NorthmeadYoung Academics Early Learning Centre, Pendle HillRoselands Early Learning Centre, RoselandsOrchard Early Learning Centre, St IvesOnly About Children, Redfern, Surry HillsLittle Zak’s Academy, West HoxtonKids Academy, Wyong
The EPA has begun visiting the 24 preschools today to discuss the issue with the childcare operators.
Other sites included 18 residential properties, 8 industrial and commercial sites, one school and 84 undeveloped sites.
The councils affected include Willoughby City, Woollahra Municipal, Sutherland Shire, Lake Macquarie City, Liverpool City, Fairfield City, City of Sydney, City of Canterbury Bankstown, City of Ryde, Central Coast Council and more.
The full list of all 33 affected councils can be found here.
Child’s role as a consultant was to make environmental assessments of the sites as part of the development applications to local councils, the EPA said.
“We are notifying all councils that may have relied on reports produced by Child in approving development applications, and will continue to provide advice and support as they review their records for these sites,” the EPA said.
“Anyone who has engaged N G Child & Associates to undertake environmental assessments as part of a development application is encouraged to contact the EPA or their relevant local council for advice.”
The EPA were clear that this investigation is not related to the asbestos-mulch debacle.
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