❓ Hon Martin Pritchard asks about a vessel incident near the Fremantle Traffic Bridge involving concrete and diesel spillage. The parliamentary secretary provides details of the incident, containment measures, and environmental impact assessment.
AnsweredQoN 553Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MAIN ROADS WESTERN AUSTRALIA — FREMANTLE
TRAFFIC BRIDGE
553. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to media reports of 29
February 2016 concerning a vessel upturning in the Swan River in the vicinity
of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge and reported comments from a Main Roads
spokesperson at the time that a boat carrying cement appeared to be involved.
(1) Does Main Roads Western Australia
have knowledge of the incident taking place?
(2) If yes to (1) —
(a) On what date
did the incident occur?
(b) Was the
vessel loaded with concrete associated with repairs to the Fremantle Traffic
Bridge?
(c) Did any
diesel or concrete from the vessel enter the water?
(d) Did the
concrete have any chemical components that could be damaging to the marine environment?
(e) Did both
testing or cleaning of the water occur after the incident; and, if so, who
undertook the testing or cleaning?
(f) If no to (2)(e), why not?
TRAFFIC BRIDGE
553. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to media reports of 29
February 2016 concerning a vessel upturning in the Swan River in the vicinity
of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge and reported comments from a Main Roads
spokesperson at the time that a boat carrying cement appeared to be involved.
(1) Does Main Roads Western Australia
have knowledge of the incident taking place?
(2) If yes to (1) —
(a) On what date
did the incident occur?
(b) Was the
vessel loaded with concrete associated with repairs to the Fremantle Traffic
Bridge?
(c) Did any
diesel or concrete from the vessel enter the water?
(d) Did the
concrete have any chemical components that could be damaging to the marine environment?
(e) Did both
testing or cleaning of the water occur after the incident; and, if so, who
undertook the testing or cleaning?
(f) If no to (2)(e), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) (a) On 29 February 2016.
(b)–(c) Yes.
(d) Concrete consists of aggregate and cement.
The chemical components in the concrete are lime and oxides, which come from
the cement used to manufacture the concrete. Low level concentrations of cement
such as that released in this instance have a negligible effect on the marine
environment.
(e)–(f) As the incident occurred within the port,
Fremantle Port Authority was informed within minutes and advised the bridge
contractor on what further actions should be undertaken. The bridge contractor
and the Fremantle Port Authority's emergency processes were implemented
and within 15 minutes spill containment booms were deployed. Once the spill
containment booms were in place, oil dispersants were introduced to the spill
area in order to remove the diesel from the sea surface. As a precautionary
measure Main Roads also employed oil dispersants at Stirling Bridge in case
residual diesel made it up to this location. With the deployment of spill
containment booms, oil dispersants and the confinement of the concrete within
the kibbles, water testing was deemed unnecessary.
(1) Yes.
(2) (a) On 29 February 2016.
(b)–(c) Yes.
(d) Concrete consists of aggregate and cement.
The chemical components in the concrete are lime and oxides, which come from
the cement used to manufacture the concrete. Low level concentrations of cement
such as that released in this instance have a negligible effect on the marine
environment.
(e)–(f) As the incident occurred within the port,
Fremantle Port Authority was informed within minutes and advised the bridge
contractor on what further actions should be undertaken. The bridge contractor
and the Fremantle Port Authority's emergency processes were implemented
and within 15 minutes spill containment booms were deployed. Once the spill
containment booms were in place, oil dispersants were introduced to the spill
area in order to remove the diesel from the sea surface. As a precautionary
measure Main Roads also employed oil dispersants at Stirling Bridge in case
residual diesel made it up to this location. With the deployment of spill
containment booms, oil dispersants and the confinement of the concrete within
the kibbles, water testing was deemed unnecessary.
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