❓ A parliamentary question addresses alleged non-compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan during a port enhancement project, focusing on monitoring deficiencies and potential influence of the State's credit rating on enforcement.
AnsweredQoN 1122Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Geraldton port enhancement project dredge plume status report. (1) Will the minister table details of the six non-compliance matters cited in the report that were brought to the attention of the Geraldton Port Authority in relation to its environmental management plan? (2) Given that this status report noted that reference sites were not monitored and background levels were not determined, how does this equate to the minister’s answer to my question on 13 August 2003 that the full water quality monitoring program was put in place on 11 October 2002? (3) Will the minister explain what influence the State’s AAA credit rating had on any decisions on enforcing compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(1) Will the minister table details of the six non-compliance matters cited in the report that were brought to the attention of the Geraldton Port Authority in relation to its environmental management plan? (2) Given that this status report noted that reference sites were not monitored and background levels were not determined, how does this equate to the minister’s answer to my question on 13 August 2003 that the full water quality monitoring program was put in place on 11 October 2002? (3) Will the minister explain what influence the State’s AAA credit rating had on any decisions on enforcing compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(2) Given that this status report noted that reference sites were not monitored and background levels were not determined, how does this equate to the minister’s answer to my question on 13 August 2003 that the full water quality monitoring program was put in place on 11 October 2002? (3) Will the minister explain what influence the State’s AAA credit rating had on any decisions on enforcing compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(3) Will the minister explain what influence the State’s AAA credit rating had on any decisions on enforcing compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(1) Will the minister table details of the six non-compliance matters cited in the report that were brought to the attention of the Geraldton Port Authority in relation to its environmental management plan? (2) Given that this status report noted that reference sites were not monitored and background levels were not determined, how does this equate to the minister’s answer to my question on 13 August 2003 that the full water quality monitoring program was put in place on 11 October 2002? (3) Will the minister explain what influence the State’s AAA credit rating had on any decisions on enforcing compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(2) Given that this status report noted that reference sites were not monitored and background levels were not determined, how does this equate to the minister’s answer to my question on 13 August 2003 that the full water quality monitoring program was put in place on 11 October 2002? (3) Will the minister explain what influence the State’s AAA credit rating had on any decisions on enforcing compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(3) Will the minister explain what influence the State’s AAA credit rating had on any decisions on enforcing compliance by the Geraldton Port Authority with its environmental management plan? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(1) The nature of the investigated issues related to the commencement date of monitoring photosynthetically active radiation at a reference site; the location of the reference site; triggering alert and action levels; response to exceedance of PAR alert level; the submission time frame for a formal report on the intensive dredging survey; and the objective in proponent commitment 3 to protect ecological, recreational and aesthetic values of marine waters. (2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(2) The monitoring program that commenced in October 2002 did not include the reference sites as the Geraldton Port Authority’s interpretation of section 4.6.1 of the environmental management plan was that monitoring of these sites was required only during periods of high natural turbidity, such as during storms and river flow. The environmental enforcement unit considered this matter in its report and, on taking legal advice, concluded that no offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 had occurred. (3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
(3) None. Investigations are based on the facts collected.
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