Hon Giz Watson raises concerns about mercury in waterways near Collie and potential public health impacts. The Minister confirms concern and outlines ongoing monitoring efforts by multiple agencies.

AnsweredQoN 653Legislative Council
Asked
18 September 2012
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

WATERWAYS MONITORING — COLLIE
653. Hon GIZ WATSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the finding of mercury in waterways near Collie.
(1) Is the minister concerned about this finding and possible
public health impacts?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) What, if any, further monitoring is occurring?
(4) Where is this monitoring occurring?
(5) What testing will be carried out?
(6) Will sediment be tested?
(7) Will stream biota be tested?
(8) If yes to (3), when will this further monitoring be
completed and reported on?
(9) If no to (3), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Not applicable.
(3)–(8)
The Department of Environment and Conservation, together with a number of other
agencies, completed a health risk analysis, water sampling program and sediment
sampling in the Collie River near Collie and tributaries near Collie on 13 September
2012. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Department of
Fisheries will be undertaking river fauna monitoring in the Collie River near
Collie and tributaries near Collie and expect to complete this by mid-October.
(9) Not
applicable.

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