IT was a small victory for North Wangaratta Football Netball Club to pull through the home and away season with no forfeits.
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Making it to the end was just the beginning, as lead contamination threatens to lock football sides out of their home ground next year too.
Groups affected by the contamination have been left in limbo, as they wait for further analyses of the results of soil and water samples.
Only then will authorities be able to determine what sort of clean-up will need to take place.
The contamination, which was caused by the neighbouring Wangaratta Clay Target Club, was discovered following a complaint to the Victorian Environment Protection Authority in May.
The club must engage a consultant to complete an environmental site assessment by October 31.
The waiting is driving us crazy.
- Gary O'Keefe
EPA acting North East manager Peter Kerr said Wangaratta Council was also preparing reports.
“The Rural City of Wangaratta engaged environmental consultants to assess lead and PAHs, a chemical within clay targets, in North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve buildings,” he said.
“There is now discussion occurring between Rural City of Wangaratta and the Department of Health and Human Services to clarify the findings of the assessment.”
The council and DHHS could not give a timeline on when the reports or clean-up would be complete.
North Wangaratta FNC senior football coach Gary O'Keefe said the club had been overwhelmed by community support, after more than 100 players had taken to the field throughout 2016.
He said, on average, senior sides usually fielded about 60 players in a season.
“Council and the AFL North East guys have been doing a lot of work to secure grounds for next year,” Mr O’Keefe said.
“The waiting is driving us crazy.
“It’s looking like we won't be able to go back in there.
“We don’t know what sort of reparation work will need to be done yet, because the results of council’s haven’t come back to a suitable standard for the DHHS.
“Obviously we are trying to establish a home base for next year as our first priority, so we can appoint coaches and attract players.”
Monthly meetings are held between the clay target club, the football netball club, council, the EPA and the DHHS.
