[200William-EC SP67851] Your letter re fumes at 200 William St

Wed Apr 19 16:00:55 AEST 2017

Hello Robin,
All looks great to me in your letter.  Thank you again so much for taking
your time to list all the details.  It's important that we have this trail
of correspondence.
Best wishes,
Craig

Hi Robin,

The email is good. Could I recommend the following change for the last
paragraph "Assistance needed"

Replace this with the following:

Request for Assistance

There are strong petrol fumes present after rain. Their effects are causing
health issues for our residents and proving a nuisance. What’s more
concerning is the possibility of a systemic issue being constantly present
with it's source under disagreement. The building and its resident s would
like to understand what action the EPA may be able to take.

We would request that you ask Avis to provide a formal inspection report as
the independent contractor has eliminated the other sources and Avis is the
only tenant storing fuel on the premises, and this storage device is in the
area affected.

Please let us know what we can or should do next.

Regards,

Residential Executive Committee

Sent from my iPhone

On 18 Apr 2017, at 5:37 pm, Matt Perkins <matt at spectrum.com.au> wrote:

That's fine with Me Robin,
 I myself have not had the smell in my apartment other then in the initial
first week of the event. Other then that I have smelt it from time to time
in the lift.  I assume it gets worse the lower down in the building you go
and people on level 1 are effect much worse then us.

I know that we have those leaks in the pumps under the ramp and I would say
that the leaks issues there would be made worse if there is petrol in the
same area.  I think the initial smell was cause with Whips opened the
access hatches to where the pump's are exposing the area . I would think if
there were no leak. There would be no smell. Either way im sure the EPA
will figure it out.

One more thing. Has anyone considered the possibility that the EPA may
order the building uninhabitable until it is restored. Im not sure it's a
reason to not call the EPA. As we are best to put our health first. But
it's worth keeping in the back of our minds.

Matt.

 On 18/4/17 5:25 pm, Robin Patrick wrote:

Thanks Patrick.

EC -  please find a draft note below. Please provide any commentary you
would like.

I believe that we should send to AVIS (local and head office); EPA; local
council. Please also suggest any other organisation that should included.

Many thanks

Robin

To whom it may concern,

*Suspected fuel leak –risk to residents and environment *

Over the last few months, the residents of 200 William Street Woolloomooloo
have been exposed to overwhelming fumes and odours.

First appearing in early March, there was an overpowering smell (similar to
that of petrol) that was not only present in the car park below ground
level, but also strongly apparent in the lifts and the higher levels of the
apartment building. It entered apartments forcing some residents to use
towels in an effort to prevent the fumes from coming through the small gaps
around each unit’s front doors.

*Investigations lead to a ruptured fuel tank within the building, owned by
AVIS.*

The building’s Executive Committee, Strata and Building Management team
arranged for a plumber to assist in the investigations. Their findings are
as follows:

*Description*

*: *Arrive onsite to and liaise with front desk of Avis Rentals to assist
in accessing carpark. *Inspect garage area with contaminants meter. Lowest
level carpark reads there is a petrochemical agent in area. We have found
large pool of seepage likely from recent heavy rainfall that has been
safety taped off. *Inspection of pooling seepage has found heavy smell of
fuel and rainbow glaze indicating fuel/oil is contaminating seepage.
*10,000L unleaded underground petroleum storage tank located on ramp that
access' lowest level of carpark. *Carry out full inspection of pump, pit
perimeter and access lines and found no visual evidence of
surcharge/overflow from above contributing to contaminated seepage. *We
have found that from our investigation we believe it is highly likely that
storage tanks has a rupture and is contaminating ground/seepage and forcing
through carpark slab when raining. *Advise Avis staff to contact Area
Manager immediately action this as it is a health and environmental issues
that carries large fines.*

*Conclusion*
*: *Most likely cause of contaminated seepage is due to a rupture in
underground petroleum storage tank located close to affected area.*

*Recommendation*

*: *We have recommended Avis action this immediately with fuel spill kits
and hazardous waste disposal services. *Following immediate issue we’ve
advised they contact petroleum storage tank contractor to pump out service
and decommission ASAP until rectified to avoid large fines from EPA.*

*Commercial Building Manager disagrees it is worth further investigation by
their tenant, AVIS.  *

An on-site meeting was held with the relevant partied including Ben Mees
(Commercial Building Manager) and the AVIS Manager. The outcome minuted at
the meeting showed that the Commercial Building Manager did not think that
the smell warranted further investigations. The notes from the independent
plumber were as follows:

*Conclusion*
*: *Ben Mees and Assistant disagrees that there is a smell that is strong
enough to warrant further investigation at costs quoted of $10,000.*

**We have recommended that a proactive solution be made by all parties to
avoid the high potential risk of harm to the occupants of the building and
the surrounding environment/public. *We highly recommend this issue should
be monitored as stormwater pump located close by could spread potential
contaminants if situation deteriorates.*

AVIS advised that they had ‘Gilbarco’ inspect their tank and are of the
opinion that there is no fuel leak. This may be correct, however the
problem continues and the it is a logical answer.

*Petrol smells continue to effect residents from time to time, particularly
during/after periods of rain. *

Fumes continue to invade the apartments of our residents into April from
time to time. Again forcing them to tape and block their doors in efforts
to prevent the fumes from entering their homes. Residents have complained
of headaches and nausea.

*Assistance needed.*

While the strong fumes come and go, their effects are causing health issues
for our residents and proving a nuisance. What’s more concerning is the
possibility of a systemic issue being constantly present and remaining
undetected. The building and its resident welcome any action that that
assist to identify and prevent this issue continuing any further.

We await your response.

Regards

Executive Committee
200 William Street
Woolloomooloo

On Thu, Apr 13, 2017 at 12:13 PM, Patrick Rush <prush at stratatitle.com.au>
wrote:

Hi Robin,

Please see attached the 2 report that was sent to the Committee previously
which provide the details of the inspection and conclusions of this
inspection by Metro City Plumbing, which will assist with drafting of your
required letter.

Kind regards,

*Patrick Rush*

Strata Manager

Phone: (02) 9266 2600 | Email: prush at stratatitle.com.au
<northshore at stratatitle.com.au> | Address: PO Box 2727, Taren Point, NSW
2229

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*From:* Robin Patrick [mailto:robin.j.patrick at gmail.com]
*Sent:* Wednesday, 12 April 2017 9:34 PM
*To:* Patrick Rush <prush at stratatitle.com.au>; ec at 200william.com
*Subject:* URGENT: summary needed (petrol)

Hi Patrick

My apartment is filling with petrol fumes once again resulting in headaches
and nausea. I can't live like this.

Can you please as a matter of urgency provide a summary of the
conversations you or Darren may have had with who, the investigations made,
the results furnished and your best guess of the issue.

Can you provide this by 5pm tomorrow (Thursday) so I can draft a letter
asap to Avis, the EPA and any other entities. I will send this to the EC to
then ratify and collectively we can finalize the recipients.

Thanks in advance

Robin

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-- 

/* Matt Perkins

        Direct 1300 137 379        Spectrum Networks Ptd. Ltd.

        Office 1300 133 299        matt at spectrum.com.au

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