Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has received an assessment detailing the extent of lead contamination at the North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve from the Wangaratta Clay Target Club (the club).
The environmental site assessment was a requirement of a notice issued to the club last year.
EPA, in consultation with the Rural City of Wangaratta and the Department of Health and Human Services, will now review the report.
Following the review, EPA will require the development of a clean-up plan for the future management of the North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve precinct.
EPA will meet with sporting groups and the community associated with the recreation reserve to discuss the next steps of returning the users of the facilities as soon as possible.
The reserve was closed to the community last year after lead was detected in soil samples at the site’s eastern boundary above the health limits for recreational levels.
At that time EPA issued the club with a notice requiring it to conduct an environmental site assessment of the reserve that would give a full understanding any contamination.
The primary objective of all agencies involved is, and has always been, to re-open the recreation reserve for use as quickly as possible while minimising any risks to human health and the local environment.