interesting article, page-17

The article to which Bunya refers (I have just unearthed the clipping he sent me on my desk) appears to have been published on page 4 of the South Burnett Times on 20th April 2012, under the heading "No move on Pound site".

A photograph of the site showing earth moving machinery and large heaps of soil has the following caption.
NO END IN SITE: The old Kingaroy Shire Council depot at Pound St, Kingaroy, will be a construction site for some time after the SBRC received a comprehensive report which outlined far more contamination than the council first thought. Photo: Danielle Lowe

DANIELLE LOWE then writes:
THE top of Pound St, Kingaroy, has looked like a construction site for more than 12 months and it appears it will stay that way for a while yet.

The old Kingaroy Shire Council depot was removed last year and the South Burnett Regional Council had hoped to decontaminate the site and find a suitable tender for the block.

However, Mayor David Carter said a comprehensive report on the decontamination process given to the council stated that the site contamination was far more widespread than first thought.

"We knew there was a fair bit of arsenic at the site which has been cleaned up now," Cr Carter said.

"But a lot of the area where oils were dumped has soaked into the ground and in some places, is up to six metres deep.

"Which is why the site is still in the process of decontamination."

Cr Carter said at the council meeting on Wednesday, councillors decided no decision would be made on the future use of the site until it was completely decontaminated.

"What has to happen now is the council will need more money to complete the decontamination process, he said. "We won't do anything until the site is cleared."

Cr Carter said he has been asked by several residents why there seemed to be large holes and piles of dirt when it is contaminated.

"We've left the site like that to aereate the contaminated dirt," he said.

"The direct sunlight helps decompose oil products so it's best to leave the heaps because it's easier for the oils to break down."

The Pound St block was valuable, so the council wanted to get the best possible value placed on it - for the community, the business community and the council - which meant they would not make a decision about its future until the site was given the all clear."

An earlier front page story by Kate Benedict in the SBT of 25 Nov 2011 is headed: "What next? Land use plans remain a mystery."

The story continued on page 6 contains the paragraph: "The land - which has in the past been subjected to oil spills from the council work conducted on site and also home to a cattle dip - is undergoing major decontamination work."

"We are trying to decontaminate the site to maximise the price of the land," Cr Carter said.

There would appear to be speculation about town that Coles are considering construction of a supermarket on the site.