Cassowary Coast Regional Council

The final chapter in relation to media claims of Agent Orange testing in Innisfail during the 1960’s was closed last Thursday (10 July, 2008) when Cassowary Coast Regional Council decided not to proceed with testing of soil in the area and confirming that the town water supply is safe to drink.

Council’s decision was based on several factors including:

• Council officer’s recommendations following consultation with experts from James Cook University (JCU) who have conducted soil testing in the river catchment area over several years;
• JCU’s information that even if present, non-water-soluble dioxins would be unlikely to progress far off the testing site due to their attachment to soil particles;
• Results of Council’s comprehensive water supply testing over the last 10-15 years;
• The Defence Department’s 1967 report number 295 in relation to the testing, obtained by Council officers to assist with deliberations;
• Queensland Health’s release of comprehensive statistics on cancer rates in the area which confirm there is no evidence of a higher rate of cancer or birth defects in Innisfail;
• Defence Department statement outlining that chemicals used in defence testing in the Gregory Falls area in 1966 were not Agent Orange related but herbicides used commercially by farming and forestry industries.

The Sun-Herald media article, based on claims by author and researcher Jean Williams, incorrectly reported that testing of Agent Orange had been carried out at Gregory Falls in the Innisfail area in 1966. The Sun-Herald later placed an apology on their website in relation to the incorrect use of cancer statistics.

Mayor Bill Shannon said that he was satisfied with the information provided by JCU, Council officers and other sources.

“All residents should feel safe in consuming the town’s water and there was never any danger in doing so,” he said.