Hon J.A. Scott asks about the Department of Health's handling of noxious waste at the Brookdale plant (1989-1996), including concerns raised by a Cleanaway employee. Hon Tom Stephens requests the question be placed on notice due to the need for file review.

AnsweredQoN 953Legislative Council
Asked
17 December 2001
Portfolio
Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

BROOKDALE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT 953. Hon J.A. SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage: There may be some confusion surrounding this question because although the regulatory role that is asked about was previously the responsibility of the Department of Health, it is now performed by the Department of Environmental Protection. The question pertains to an incident that occurred while the Department of Health was responsible for regulating the industry. (1) Did the Department of Health approve the handling of noxious and/or toxic industrial wastes at the Brookdale waste water treatment plant in the years 1989 to 1996? (2) In 1990, did an employee from Cleanaway raise concerns with the Department of Health that the Brookdale plant did not have the appropriate facilities to handle noxious/toxic industrial waste; and, if so, will the Minister for Health provide details of those complaints? (3) What action did the Department of Health take regarding those complaints? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.
BROOKDALE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT
There may be some confusion surrounding this question because although the regulatory role that is asked about was previously the responsibility of the Department of Health, it is now performed by the Department of Environmental Protection. The question pertains to an incident that occurred while the Department of Health was responsible for regulating the industry. (1) Did the Department of Health approve the handling of noxious and/or toxic industrial wastes at the Brookdale waste water treatment plant in the years 1989 to 1996? (2) In 1990, did an employee from Cleanaway raise concerns with the Department of Health that the Brookdale plant did not have the appropriate facilities to handle noxious/toxic industrial waste; and, if so, will the Minister for Health provide details of those complaints? (3) What action did the Department of Health take regarding those complaints? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.
(1) Did the Department of Health approve the handling of noxious and/or toxic industrial wastes at the Brookdale waste water treatment plant in the years 1989 to 1996? (2) In 1990, did an employee from Cleanaway raise concerns with the Department of Health that the Brookdale plant did not have the appropriate facilities to handle noxious/toxic industrial waste; and, if so, will the Minister for Health provide details of those complaints? (3) What action did the Department of Health take regarding those complaints? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.
(2) In 1990, did an employee from Cleanaway raise concerns with the Department of Health that the Brookdale plant did not have the appropriate facilities to handle noxious/toxic industrial waste; and, if so, will the Minister for Health provide details of those complaints? (3) What action did the Department of Health take regarding those complaints? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.
(3) What action did the Department of Health take regarding those complaints? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.
(1)-(3) The Department of Environmental Protection has advised that although the files for the period 1989 to 1996 are now held by the DEP, the proponent during this period was the Department of Health. As the Department of Environmental Protection had no direct involvement with the Brookdale facility from 1989 to 1996, it would take several days to go through the files to answer this question. Therefore, I ask that the question be placed on notice.

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