Transport for NSW has offered Tarago residents free property and blood tests in response to lead contamination concerns.
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At a town hall meeting this week, a spokesperson for the statutory authority confirmed it had known about contamination since 2015.
Lead levels were determined by Transport for NSW contractor John Holland Rail during preliminary works to construct the Tarago siding.
In February this year, tests showed the Old Station Master's Cottage was 10 to 15 times above safe exposure limits for lead.
The resident family was relocated to Goulburn after a blood test showed unacceptably high lead levels in a year-old infant there.
As at March 12, 75 residents had signed up for property and blood testing to check lead levels.
Property testing will involve examining soil, external and internal dust, paint, and drinking water.
Blood testing will be arranged through residents' personal doctors.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the health and safety of the Tarago community was their highest priority.
"We are committed to ensuring that the lead in the rail corridor and any impacts on properties in the vicinity of the corridor are properly and safely managed," the spokesperson said.
"We are offering residents who live in proximity to the rail corridor the opportunity to have their homes tested for lead; and where elevated levels of lead are detected, to have blood tests.
"We hope these tests will give the community peace of mind."
Transport for NSW will contact residents before Friday, March 20 to arrange the next steps.
Testing is not restricted to Tarago residents. People who spend time in the affected areas of Tarago may also register their details.
The Transport for NSW spokesperson said the authority would work with Tarago Public and businesses to inform people about testing.
"We will be holding a community drop-in session in early April to report back to the community," the spokesperson said.
Contamination concerns for property prices
The Tarago community has raised concerns property prices will now be affected by the lead contamination found in the town. The contaminated site is on the edge of a new housing development.
While the development has been in the works since before 2009, the first house was built only 18 months ago.
According to a recent real estate report by Domain, of the 404 population in Tarago, 86 per cent are home-owners.
The report said 14 per cent of the population was rental.
Tarago Real Estate principal Judy Alcock said she wasn't sure of the long-term impact on property values, but the lead contamination wouldn't help. The contamination "is not going to encourage people to live here," she said.
The real estate agent said the state of the market would depend on how transparent Transport for NSW were in handling the issue. "It will affect the market in the short-term," Ms Alcock said.
Transport for NSW deputy secretary Carol-Anne Nelson said the only places with unacceptable levels of lead contamination were sections of the rail corridor and the adjacent Old Station Master's Cottage. She said lead levels in all public places tested had come back as "low and acceptable".
Ms Alcock said her main concern was that "the rail siding should never have been built there".
Her biggest questions were why other options weren't considered, and what date the rail siding had been actually approved by the NSW Government.
Ms Alcock said she was disappointed with her elected representatives and how the situation had been handled.
To register details for testing, call 4907 7525 or email JHRcorres@transport.nsw.gov.au
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