Monday, July 20, 2015

A marine fuel spill on Australia's Casuarina Beach in Darwin Tuesday is being cleaned up by Australian and American environmental specialists

Sand to be cleaned and replaced after fuel spill on popular Darwin beach






  • ToxFree driver Mark Fitzgibbon takes a closer smell of the sand contaminated by fuel on C
    ToxFree driver Mark Fitzgibbon takes a closer smell of the sand contaminated by fuel on Casuarina Beach during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Picture: Patrina Malone

    AUSTRALIAN and American environmental specialists were cleaning up a suspected fuel spill at a popular Darwin beach on Wednesday. 

    The ADF and Marines were notified of a marine fuel spill on Casuarina Beach, off Lee Point on Tuesday.

    Results of sand quality testing revealed an area about 20m long and 10m wide that may have been contaminated in a spill which occurred during an amphibious offload as a part of Exercise Talisman Sabre — Australia’s largest combined military exercise, which runs through until July 21. 

    Department of Defence start the clean up at Lee Point Beach. Picture: Patrina Malone
    Department of Defence start the clean up at Lee Point Beach. Picture: Patrina Malone
     
    A spokesman said the ADF had “notified all appropriate government agencies”.
    “The ADF’s environmental team took immediate steps to cordon the area and began to assess the extent of the incident,” he said.

    It’s not known what caused the spill.

    About 15 cubic metre of sand was removed from the beach and dumped into large bins. The sand is expected to be cleaned and replaced.

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    Marine Fuel Spill at Australian Beach

    Monday July 20, 2015
    Marine Fuel Spill at Australian Port
    Sand quality testing has reportedly found a spill area of 20m long and 10m wide.

    A marine fuel spill on Australia's Casuarina Beach in Darwin Tuesday is being cleaned up by Australian and American environmental specialists, local media reports.

    About 15 cubic metres is said to have been removed from the beach, and is expected to be cleaned and replaced.

    While it was not known what caused the spill, sand quality testing reportedly found a contaminated area of 20 metres long and 10 metres wide.

    The spill is said to have occurred during an amphibious offload as a part of local military exercise.

    Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the marines were said to have been notified of the spill and responded by contacting "all appropriate government agencies".

    "The ADF's environmental team took immediate steps to cordon the area and began to assess the extent of the incident," said an ADF spokeman.
    Last year, an environmental group was fined after one of its ships spilled up to 500 litres of diesel into the Trinity Inlet in Cairns, Australia.