❓ Hon Michelle Hofmann questions the Minister for the Environment regarding increased ammonia and Enterococci levels from the Beenyup Wastewater Ocean Outlets and their potential impact on shoreline water quality. The Minister assures that monitoring data doesn't indicate increased levels and that the outlet doesn't affect Pinnaroo Point, while addressing monitoring capabilities.
AnsweredQoN 1149Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Environmental Protection Authority’s Report 1751 – Beenyup Wastewater Ocean Outlets into Marmion Marine Park (2023) , which confirms that ammonia levels in wastewater discharge have increased and that Enterococci concentrations in discharge streams vary significantly depending on Advanced Water Recycling Plant operating conditions, and I ask: (a) what assurance can the Minister provide that increased bacterial loads in the wastewater stream have no relationship to shoreline Enterococci exceedances, given the hydrodynamic uncertainties identified in the O₂ Report; and (b) will the Minister implement daily or automated monitoring and water quality testing during high-use summer months?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
5 days
a) The Water Corporation are required to monitor specific parameters at the Beenyup Watewater outfall each year. These results are published on their website. The latest results show that concentrations of ammonia or of Enterococci have not increased in recent years compared to previous results.
The shoreline Enterococci exceedance at Pinnaroo point is a large distance from the Beenyup wastewater ocean outlet. The O2 Report regarding dispersion from the outlet shows that Pinnaroo Point water quality is not affected by the Beenyup ocean outlet.
b) The Department is unaware of any automated systems available for real-time microbial water quality testing. All testing must be done at a suitably accredited laboratory.
It is understood that the City of Joondalup has resumed weekly bacterial water quality testing at Mullaloo beach, the closest beach to the Beenyup Wastewater ocean outfall over the 2025/26 summer period as part of the Recreational Waters Microbial Monitoring Program overseen by the Department of Health.
The shoreline Enterococci exceedance at Pinnaroo point is a large distance from the Beenyup wastewater ocean outlet. The O2 Report regarding dispersion from the outlet shows that Pinnaroo Point water quality is not affected by the Beenyup ocean outlet.
b) The Department is unaware of any automated systems available for real-time microbial water quality testing. All testing must be done at a suitably accredited laboratory.
It is understood that the City of Joondalup has resumed weekly bacterial water quality testing at Mullaloo beach, the closest beach to the Beenyup Wastewater ocean outfall over the 2025/26 summer period as part of the Recreational Waters Microbial Monitoring Program overseen by the Department of Health.
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