Toxic history of Fiskville training site

FISKVILLE'S TOXIC TIMELINE

PAST PRACTICES - Concerns over haphazard use, storage and dumping of toxic chemicals at Fiskville going back to the 1970s. Firefighter trained with water from contaminated dams.

Late 2011 - Reports of a cancer cluster among former Fiskville workers.

Late 2012 - Large tanks, connected to mains-water, installed so dam water is no longer used.

Early 2014 - Whistleblower and former CFA chief officer Brian Potter dies of cancer.

Late 2014 - Incoming Andrews government announces inquiry into toxic contamination and cancer cluster. Fiskville's training operations downgraded.

Early 2015 - Study confirms elevated rates of brain, skin and testicular cancers among 606 Fiskville firefighters from 1971 - 1999. Sixteen died, 53 others diagnosed.

March 2015 - Carcinogenic chemical detected in mains water tanks, likely leached into underground pipes. Fiskville closed pending investigation. Two senior Worksafe executives sacked.