❓ Mr. McGowan questions the Minister about poor water quality in Jervoise Bay Northern Harbour and the overall ecological health of Cockburn Sound, referencing the State of Cockburn Sound Report 2014. The Minister's response refers to ongoing management plans and reports indicating overall improvement in Cockburn Sound's environmental quality.
AnsweredQoN 4908Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the advice in the State of Cockburn Sound Report 2014 , water quality in Jervoise Bay Northern Harbour continues to be poor. All relevant nutrient enrichment indicators failed in meeting the criteria. Phytoplankton biomass exceeded the environmental quality standard for the eleventh consecutive reporting period...
Water quality continues to be poor within Jervoise Bay Northern Harbour, where eutrophication is an ongoing problem. Phytoplankton biomass exceeded the guideline value 94 percent of the time in 2012–13 and 69 per cent of the time in 2013–14, which meant the environmental quality standard (EQS) was exceeded for the eleventh consecutive reporting period . and ask: (a) did the Minister request further investigations of water quality in Jervoise Bay; and (b) does the Minister still consider Cockburn Sound is in good ecological health?
Water quality continues to be poor within Jervoise Bay Northern Harbour, where eutrophication is an ongoing problem. Phytoplankton biomass exceeded the guideline value 94 percent of the time in 2012–13 and 69 per cent of the time in 2013–14, which meant the environmental quality standard (EQS) was exceeded for the eleventh consecutive reporting period . and ask: (a) did the Minister request further investigations of water quality in Jervoise Bay; and (b) does the Minister still consider Cockburn Sound is in good ecological health?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 March 2016
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
28 days
(a) The State of Cockburn Sound Report 2014 stated that the Cockburn Sound Management Council will seek reconsideration of the recommendations in the Jervoise Bay Northern Harbour Management Plan (Cockburn Sound Management Council 2012) which identified a range of options to improve water quality by the relevant stakeholders (Executive Summary, page 5; Ecosystem Health, page 8).
(b) The Cockburn Sound Management Council reports annually to me on the health of Cockburn Sound. This assessment is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the State Environmental (Cockburn Sound) Policy. The latest report was published in June 2015 and presents the results of monitoring undertaken over the 2013–2014 monitoring period. The report concluded that, overall, the environmental quality of Cockburn Sound is improving.
(b) The Cockburn Sound Management Council reports annually to me on the health of Cockburn Sound. This assessment is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the State Environmental (Cockburn Sound) Policy. The latest report was published in June 2015 and presents the results of monitoring undertaken over the 2013–2014 monitoring period. The report concluded that, overall, the environmental quality of Cockburn Sound is improving.
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