❓ Question regarding asbestos contamination and erosion at Cape Peron beach within the Shoalwater Marine Park. The Minister acknowledges the issues and outlines actions taken and potential for future collaboration with the City of Rockingham.
AnsweredQoN 1570Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the state of the beach at the Cape Peron end of the Shoalwater Marine Park in the City of Rockingham, and ask: (a) is the Minister aware the beach has for some time been strewn with asbestos fencing, and numerous complaints have been made to the Department of Parks and Wildlife; (b) is the Minister also aware of the significant erosion at the beach; (c) has any effort been made to provide signage to alert the public to the presence of asbestos at the beach; (d) has there been any effort to clean up and dispose of the asbestos contamination at the beach: (i) if yes, what action has been taken; and (ii) if not, why not; (e) what is the reason for the Department of Parks and Wildlife not accepting the offer of assistance from the City of Rockingham to tackle: (i) the cleanup of asbestos; and (ii) the erosion; and (f) will the Department take up the City of Rockingham on its offer of assistance in the future for dealing with: (i) the cleanup and disposal of the asbestos; and (ii) the erosion?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 February 2014
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
97 days
(a) Yes.
(b) Yes
(c) The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) has installed signage at the abandoned Apex camp adjacent to the beach warning people of asbestos contamination at the site.
(d) Yes. DPaW has undertaken beach clean-ups in November and December 2013. The first was aimed at removing concrete slabs and larger debris that had become exposed adjacent to the Apex camp, and the second clean-up was to remove small pieces of asbestos from the beach. Further monitoring and clean-ups on the beach will be required as old land fill and asbestos become exposed during erosion events.
(e)(i) I am advised that DPaW is not aware of any offer of assistance from the City of Rockingham to clean up asbestos in the area, but would welcome any assistance the City was willing to provide.
(e)(ii) The City of Rockingham has previously offered to include this beach in their beach nourishment program. The initial offer was not supported by DPaW due to these works having the potential to smother sea-grass beds in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.
(f)(i) DPaW would welcome any offer of assistance from the City to clean up asbestos in this area.
(f)(ii) DPaW would welcome any assistance the City can provide to combat erosion in this location provided it is consistent with the
Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Management Plan 2007-2017
and the
Rockingham Lakes Regional Park Management Plan 2010
and the works do not impact on the conservation values of the area.
(b) Yes
(c) The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) has installed signage at the abandoned Apex camp adjacent to the beach warning people of asbestos contamination at the site.
(d) Yes. DPaW has undertaken beach clean-ups in November and December 2013. The first was aimed at removing concrete slabs and larger debris that had become exposed adjacent to the Apex camp, and the second clean-up was to remove small pieces of asbestos from the beach. Further monitoring and clean-ups on the beach will be required as old land fill and asbestos become exposed during erosion events.
(e)(i) I am advised that DPaW is not aware of any offer of assistance from the City of Rockingham to clean up asbestos in the area, but would welcome any assistance the City was willing to provide.
(e)(ii) The City of Rockingham has previously offered to include this beach in their beach nourishment program. The initial offer was not supported by DPaW due to these works having the potential to smother sea-grass beds in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.
(f)(i) DPaW would welcome any offer of assistance from the City to clean up asbestos in this area.
(f)(ii) DPaW would welcome any assistance the City can provide to combat erosion in this location provided it is consistent with the
Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Management Plan 2007-2017
and the
Rockingham Lakes Regional Park Management Plan 2010
and the works do not impact on the conservation values of the area.
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