So far 165 properties have been sampled in stages one and two.

Results from 70 of those premises have been analysed, and about two thirds require some form of cleaning.

Project Director Wayne Winchester said that letters seeking consent to sample have now been sent to all 220 premises in stage three.

“The sampling team is currently sampling 20 premises per week and is continually booked up two weeks in advance,” he said.

“Additional sampling equipment is currently being purchased as the sampling program is expected to double in the coming months.”

Mr Winchester said that the ECRP team has identified a likely area of elevated lead concentrations across the town site using available datasets and computer modeling.

“This area will be refined as we systematically sample in a staged approach to determine the actual levels and the degree of cleaning required at individual premises,” he said.

The trial cleaning project is in progress and 14 homes have been cleaned to date.

The project was initially intended for the 21 homes sampled early last year, however the level of cleaning required in those homes was very limited and the trial was subsequently expanded to include some homes from stage one.

Mr Winchester said he anticipated that approximately 30 premises would be cleaned under the trial project and that the major cleaning program would commence in July.

The cleanup team has also created a customised compact vacuum sampling system specially designed to collect dust samples in roof spaces.

Mr Winchester said the original system was cumbersome to use in roof spaces and had been identified as a potential Occupational Health and Safety risk.

“A prototype is currently being fabricated and once this proves suitable, additional units will be manufactured to allocate one unit to each sampling team,” Mr Winchester said.

The ECRP has been invited to provide a presentation booth display at the upcoming Over the Horizon seminar, to be held at the Esperance Civic Centre on March 4.

The Department of Environment and Conservation has released the Esperance Townsite Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment report, prepared by Golder Associates, which can be obtained from the DEC website or at the ECRP offices.