❓ Hon Robin Chapple raises concerns about overflowing sewerage ponds at Pangurr, posing potential health risks to the community, particularly children. The Minister's response indicates monitoring by multiple agencies and assigns responsibility for maintenance and action to the Department of Housing and Works.
AnsweredQoN 2210Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the sewerage farm at Pangurr and photographs located at Web-site
http://mp.wa.gov.au/rchapple/issues/pangurr
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(1) Can the Minister identify how long his Department has been aware of these ponds overflowing?
(2) Given that the untreated sewerage is escaping into the environment beyond the fence line of the ponds and is accessible to the children of the community, what does the Minister’s Department intend to do to rectify the situation?
(3) Given that the continuing unseasonal rains are continually exacerbating this problem, what does the Minister’s Department intend to do to redesign the facility to cope with the increased rainfall and reduced evaporation?
http://mp.wa.gov.au/rchapple/issues/pangurr
-
(1) Can the Minister identify how long his Department has been aware of these ponds overflowing?
(2) Given that the untreated sewerage is escaping into the environment beyond the fence line of the ponds and is accessible to the children of the community, what does the Minister’s Department intend to do to rectify the situation?
(3) Given that the continuing unseasonal rains are continually exacerbating this problem, what does the Minister’s Department intend to do to redesign the facility to cope with the increased rainfall and reduced evaporation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 September 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
35 days
(2) Information provided to the DOH indicates that the pooling of water caused by the over flow is not contaminated with untreated sewerage. The discharge is from the tertiary pond. · The Department of Housing and Works (DHW) have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds. · The DHW through the Remote Area Essential Service program has been monitoring the lagoons. · The East Pilbara Shire environmental health officer is also monitoring the lagoons. · The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The Department of Housing and Works (DHW) have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds. · The DHW through the Remote Area Essential Service program has been monitoring the lagoons. · The East Pilbara Shire environmental health officer is also monitoring the lagoons. · The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The DHW through the Remote Area Essential Service program has been monitoring the lagoons. · The East Pilbara Shire environmental health officer is also monitoring the lagoons. · The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The East Pilbara Shire environmental health officer is also monitoring the lagoons. · The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
(3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The Department of Housing and Works (DHW) have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds. · The DHW through the Remote Area Essential Service program has been monitoring the lagoons. · The East Pilbara Shire environmental health officer is also monitoring the lagoons. · The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The DHW through the Remote Area Essential Service program has been monitoring the lagoons. · The East Pilbara Shire environmental health officer is also monitoring the lagoons. · The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The East Pilbara Shire environmental health officer is also monitoring the lagoons. · The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The ponds are approximately five kilometres from the community and not easily accessed by children. · The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The fencing around the lagoons has been repaired numerous times, but is still being damaged by community members accessing the ponds. · The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
· The Department of Health will continue to monitor the safety of the pools pending any necessary action by the Department of Housing and Works. (3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
(3) The Department of Housing and Works have the responsibility for the maintenance of the sewerage ponds and will take any action necessary if there are health risks.
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