❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses groundwater contamination in Stirling and Balcatta, requesting the tabling of test results related to arsenic and heavy metals in domestic bores and de-watering licenses. The Minister defers tabling until a final report is ready.
AnsweredQoN 1183Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION, STIRLING AND BALCATTA
I refer to the high levels of ground water contamination with arsenic, lead and other metals in the Stirling and Balcatta areas and answers to question without notice 1055 of 26 February and question without notice 1085 of 28 February 2002, and ask - (1) Will the minister table the results of testing of the 44 domestic bores that were chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals? (2) Will the minister advise whether the other 656 domestic bores that were tested for acidity were also chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals; and, if so, will the minister provide the results of that testing? (3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS
I refer to the high levels of ground water contamination with arsenic, lead and other metals in the Stirling and Balcatta areas and answers to question without notice 1055 of 26 February and question without notice 1085 of 28 February 2002, and ask - (1) Will the minister table the results of testing of the 44 domestic bores that were chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals? (2) Will the minister advise whether the other 656 domestic bores that were tested for acidity were also chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals; and, if so, will the minister provide the results of that testing? (3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(1) Will the minister table the results of testing of the 44 domestic bores that were chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals? (2) Will the minister advise whether the other 656 domestic bores that were tested for acidity were also chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals; and, if so, will the minister provide the results of that testing? (3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(2) Will the minister advise whether the other 656 domestic bores that were tested for acidity were also chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals; and, if so, will the minister provide the results of that testing? (3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(1) Will the minister table the results of testing of the 44 domestic bores that were chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals? (2) Will the minister advise whether the other 656 domestic bores that were tested for acidity were also chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals; and, if so, will the minister provide the results of that testing? (3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(2) Will the minister advise whether the other 656 domestic bores that were tested for acidity were also chemically analysed for arsenic and heavy metals; and, if so, will the minister provide the results of that testing? (3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(3) Will the minister table all test results and analytical certificates that have been carried out for the de-watering licences that were issued to two developers in the area? (4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(4) Will the minister table the sample test results that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has carried out on the soil and drillings to identify sources of arsenic and heavy metals contamination? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I advise the member that the department of environment, water and catchment protection has not yet been formally established. Therefore, this answer refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, which is the department responsible for preparation of the report. (1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(1) Not at this time. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been provided with a draft report by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, the draft report contains information that identifies people’s residences and needs to be removed prior to public release of the document. The minister has advised that she will table the final report once it has been finalised. (2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(2) No, they were not. However, where bores with a pH above 5.5 were identified, no further tests were conducted. Bores with a pH less than 5.5 were then tested for arsenic and heavy metals. The results of this testing will be included in the final report and tabled as per (1). (3)-(4) Answered by (1).
(3)-(4) Answered by (1).
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