❓ Hon Charles Smith asks about PFAS contamination in West Bullsbrook's water supply, seeking details on alternative water provisions and long-term solutions. The Minister defers to the Commonwealth government's responsibility and ongoing discussions.
AnsweredQoN 1072Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SOIL AND WATER
CONTAMINATION — WEST BULLSBROOK
1072. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the per-fluoroalkyl
chemical—PFAS—contamination in west Bullsbrook that has been
detected in bores, soils and eggs. I also refer to the minister's
response from yesterday.
(1) What and how
is the alternative water being supplied to the residences affected by PFAS
contamination?
(2) Which streets in west Bullsbrook
are having alternative water supplied?
(3) In addition
to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, what other relevant
state agencies are involved in examining the long-term options for supplying
fresh, clean water to these properties?
(4) Will the
minister now fast-track those residents currently not attached to mains scheme
water in west Bullsbrook onto scheme water?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
CONTAMINATION — WEST BULLSBROOK
1072. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the per-fluoroalkyl
chemical—PFAS—contamination in west Bullsbrook that has been
detected in bores, soils and eggs. I also refer to the minister's
response from yesterday.
(1) What and how
is the alternative water being supplied to the residences affected by PFAS
contamination?
(2) Which streets in west Bullsbrook
are having alternative water supplied?
(3) In addition
to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, what other relevant
state agencies are involved in examining the long-term options for supplying
fresh, clean water to these properties?
(4) Will the
minister now fast-track those residents currently not attached to mains scheme
water in west Bullsbrook onto scheme water?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The relevant minister is the Minister for Water and I represent that minister
in this place. He has provided the following information.
(1)–(2) As
outlined yesterday by the Minister for Environment, the situation is complex.
State environmental laws have limited application to commonwealth land, and
state agencies have limited line of sight as to the investigation, remediation
and mitigation practices of federal agencies. In accordance with the
Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Framework for Responding to PFAS
Contamination, the commonwealth is responsible for identifying and managing
PFAS contamination on and from commonwealth sites, and on sites where
commonwealth government activities have resulted in PFAS contamination. The
Department of Defence has informed the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation that, by July 2018, it had tested more than 150 groundwater samples
off-base, that groundwater samples collected from six residential bores
detected PFAS above drinking water guidance values and that alternative water
is being provided to these properties. Questions about the means of supply of
alternative water and the specific properties for which such provisions have
been made should be addressed to the Department of Defence.
(3) Defence has
commenced discussions with the Western Australian Water Corporation, the Western
Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Water
and Environmental Regulation regarding options for providing sustainable
long-term drinking water supplies to the properties where PFAS was detected
above drinking water guidance values.
(4)–(5) The
Water Corporation is liaising with consultants appointed by the appropriate
commonwealth departments to provide advice on scheme water options for the west
Bullsbrook area.
The relevant minister is the Minister for Water and I represent that minister
in this place. He has provided the following information.
(1)–(2) As
outlined yesterday by the Minister for Environment, the situation is complex.
State environmental laws have limited application to commonwealth land, and
state agencies have limited line of sight as to the investigation, remediation
and mitigation practices of federal agencies. In accordance with the
Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Framework for Responding to PFAS
Contamination, the commonwealth is responsible for identifying and managing
PFAS contamination on and from commonwealth sites, and on sites where
commonwealth government activities have resulted in PFAS contamination. The
Department of Defence has informed the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation that, by July 2018, it had tested more than 150 groundwater samples
off-base, that groundwater samples collected from six residential bores
detected PFAS above drinking water guidance values and that alternative water
is being provided to these properties. Questions about the means of supply of
alternative water and the specific properties for which such provisions have
been made should be addressed to the Department of Defence.
(3) Defence has
commenced discussions with the Western Australian Water Corporation, the Western
Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Water
and Environmental Regulation regarding options for providing sustainable
long-term drinking water supplies to the properties where PFAS was detected
above drinking water guidance values.
(4)–(5) The
Water Corporation is liaising with consultants appointed by the appropriate
commonwealth departments to provide advice on scheme water options for the west
Bullsbrook area.
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