Hon Rick Mazza asks about a canola spill in Cockburn Sound and potential pesticide contamination, as well as reports of adverse reactions from swimmers. The Minister confirms the spill, addresses pesticide concerns, and acknowledges swimmer reports.

AnsweredQoN 1434Legislative Council
Asked
2 December 2015
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

COCKBURN
SOUND — CANOLA SPILL
1434. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
(1) Can the
minister advise whether the Department of Environment Regulation is aware of
any ship having lost a quantity of cargo in Cockburn Sound recently?
(2) If yes to (1) —
(a) can the minister confirm that the
cargo was canola;
(b) can the
minister confirm that the department is aware that pesticides also may have
been carried by the ship in relation to the canola cargo; and
(c) is the
minister aware of reports of swimmers experiencing adverse reactions after
swimming in Cockburn Sound?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) Yes. The
Department of Environment Regulation advises that some canola grain was spilled
onto the Kwinana grain jetty during ship loading between 18 and 22 November
2015. Although this was cleaned up by Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd, some may
have entered Cockburn Sound.
(2) (a) Yes.
(b) The
Department of Environment Regulation is unable to advise what other cargo was
carried by the ship. Analysis results of grain from this vessel from the commonwealth
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources indicates no pesticides present
in the samples taken.
(c) Yes.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more