The State Government was also aware of the serious nature and threat the site presented as shown in parliamentary extract

Victorian Government Address by

Danielle Green Local Member Sept 2018

Subject: Hansard proof - Sale of Land Amendment Bill

Ms GREEN — It should not be surprising that those opposite, who have ceased speaking on this bill, would call a quorum, because although they indicated with their one single speaker on this bill that they would not oppose it, we know that they are never in the consumer’s corner. I congratulate Cr Tom Joseph and others in the City of Whittlesea for the City of Whittlesea to have backed this change in and to have stood up for the many, many people who are choosing to move into that great municipality. I also want to stand up for the consumers who feel that they have a right to know and to make sure that there is an offence for fraudulently concealing material facts about a property for sale. 

I have numerous people in my neighbourhood who are deeply concerned at the moment that they have been living next to a former goldmine, which has caused at least one family to have to move out of their home. This is despite there being an independent report from 1998 that said this land should never be developed for residential development. I know my opponents have said, ‘Oh, I’ve spoken to the developer’ and ‘The developer’s not a bad person’ and ‘The council hasn’t done anything wrong’. Well, the fact is that somebody has. 

We need to strengthen the law so that people do not buy properties without the knowledge that their children could be seriously injured and have their health impacted. Facts like that should be on titles so that people know and so that it is reflected in the price. It also assists consumers to make a decision. A former Nillumbik councillor sold one of those properties in Fraser Street, and he is an engineer so he ought to have known better. He would have known what council officers knew: that that site at 50 Fraser Street posed a risk to health. This development, which began in 1988, is actually the estate that I live in. I am fortunate that I am only a renter, but I am concerned for everyone in the neighbourhood because they have had information kept from them that has now placed their families at risk. 

Council Meeting Summary:

Purpose: To discuss progress and issues at development site at 50 Fraser Street, Diamond Creek:

Diary Notes from Meeting co-ordinated by EPA and Council

Attendees:

EPA - Nina, Jeremy, Chris (apologies no last names)

Nillumbik Council – Amanda Cuxson

Date: 4 July 2018

Location: James Cook drive entrance of the development.

The meeting held Wednesday 4/7/2018 was purely focused on the arsenic content of the development and surrounding areas. Offers were made by the EPA to conduct another round of soil samples to see if arsenic levels are not increasing in neighbouring properties. This is re-assuring.

I can certainly understand this, as the key concern is Environmental Health and Safety.

The point in case is that arsenic urine tests have been privately conducted by one resident to discover high levels were detected in two family members. This is of major concern as the majority, if not all residents surrounding the gold mine precinct were not notified that this contaminant was present before purchasing their property. Knowledge of the arsenic contamination was well known

and documented by local and government authorities for many years prior.

The serious question that needs to be asked, “Who authorized the development on this property” knowing the toxic nature of the soil. We need someone to “Answer the question”

To this date this question is still unanswered.

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Based on a 2018 report by A Current Affair on Facebook,50 Fraser St was identified as a site with arsenic contamination affecting surrounding residential properties. This contamination, highlighted in investigations into local environmental safety, caused significant concern for residents in the area. 

· Location: 50 Fraser St (likely Australia, based on the legal firm involved in the report).

· Issue: Residential properties in the vicinity were affected by arsenic, prompting investigations.

· Report: Featured on A Current Affair in September 2018, according to this Facebook post. 

For more specific information on remediation or the exact location, please refer to local council records or the legal firm mentioned in the report (Gordon Legal).

https://www.facebook.com/gordonlegalaus/videos/233292314020033/

https://www.9news.com.au/national/arsenic-avenue-melbourne-gold-mine-land-toxic/17485735-96c0-4ae7-87f2-49d38b34bb65

A young family has been forced to move out of their home in Melbourne’s north-east after discovering their house was built on toxic land. 

Now remaining residents are demanding answers as they claim authorities knew about the contamination for 20 years but have done nothing – in some cases, they even refused to test some homes and left many in limbo.

Labelled “Arsenic Avenue”, the abandoned gold mine site in Fraser Street, Diamond Creek contains higher concentrations of arsenic in its soil. Arsenic is a poisonous metallic compound which has been linked to cancer.

Mother-of-three Kim Murdoch had lived close to the site for 16 years but only found out her property was riddled with arsenic after her insurance company was looking into a flood damage claim in December 2017.

According to enivornmental toxicologist Suzie Reichman, children are the most vulnerable to arsenic poisoning.

The normal range for children is under 100nmol/mmol but in a recent test, Ms Murdoch’s two-year-old son had a reading of 474nmol/mmol, and her four-year-old a reading of 143nmol/mmol.

Kim had to sell her house well under market value and move to a safer area to raise her children.

Key Accumulation and Health Facts about living with Arsenic

· Targeted Tissues: While arsenic is mostly excreted through urine, it accumulates in hair, nails, skin, liver, kidneys, and muscles.

· Long-Term Effects: Chronic low-level exposure can take years to show symptoms, which typically begin with skin pigmentation changes, warts on hands/feet, and peripheral neuropathy (tingling in hands/feet).

· Cancer Risk: Inorganic arsenic is a recognized human carcinogen, increasing the risk of bladder, lung, liver, and skin cancers.

· Organ Damage: Long-term accumulation can result in liver and kidney damage, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

· Accumulation in Children: Children may be more susceptible to arsenic exposure, as they are less efficient at converting inorganic arsenic into less toxic, excreteable forms. 

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Key Points to consider when looking into any property at the 50 Fraser St development.

1: Are you happy to raise a family in and environment that contains potentially dangerous levels on Arsenic

2: Are you willing to invest in land where its foundations are unknown in relation to mine shafts.

3: The cost of build on the majority of these sites will entail slab and pier foundations to mitigate the issue of mine shaft collapse and /or soft earth fill not providing correct support.  

Soft fill foundations refer to specialized engineering techniques used to construct buildings on weak, compressible, or unstable ground—such as soft clay, peat, silt, or uncompacted fill—where traditional shallow foundations would cause excessive settlement or failure. These solutions focus on either bridging over the weak soil, reinforcing the soil, or reducing the weight of the building. 

Ensure your Property  “Section 32” fully covers all of these potential risks to mitigate the costs involved in any future legal or  insurance issue you may endure.

A Section 32 statement (or vendor’s statement) is a mandatory legal document in Victoria, Australia, that sellers must provide to prospective buyers before a contract of sale is signed. Based on the Sale of Land Act 1962, it discloses crucial property information, including mortgages, covenants, easements, zoning, council rates, and building permits, allowing buyers to make informed decisions. 

Would you risk buying a property here?

This website is just another comment on the internet and does not come with any authority ,  just an opinion from observations.

Most importantly - Do your own research and make your own judgement.

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