Former Jennings Arsenic Processing Plant Remediation Project

Jennings is a town in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia.

The former Jennings Arsenic Processing Plant was historically used for the production of Prickly Pear poison, developing arsenic trioxide powder from 1923 to 1931.

The site had rehabilitation works in the 1950s and 2000s. Works in the 1950s involved the burial of arsenic impacted soil and drums used in the packaging process. In 2009, works involved rehabilitation to the surface of the site with the addition of topsoil and the creation of surface water control structures.

The Environment Protection Authority has regulated the site and as a result further remediation is planned.

The NSW Government has committed $3.4 million for these works.

The clean-up is scheduled to get underway from late March 2023 following an easing of wet weather and ground conditions.

The remediation will see contaminated soil excavated, treated and sealed in a containment cell to protect against potential human and environmental exposure.

Measures will be put in place to mitigate potential erosion and collect sediment runoff. Groundwater, surface water and sediments at the site will continue to be monitored to protect the local community and environment.

The land will be revegetated with native grasses and monitored to determine when public access can occur.

The project is scheduled to take 10-12 weeks.

A highly experienced remediation contractor has been appointed to manage the process.