❓ A parliamentary question regarding the discovery of chemical drums near a water source in the Blackwood River catchment. The response details the findings of the FPC's investigation, concluding the drums were likely dumped by an external party.
AnsweredQoN 34Legislative Council
Asked
8 April 2025
Member
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food; Fisheries; Forestry; Small Business; Mid West
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to glyphosate and metsulfuron chemical drums found in the Blackwood River catchment in August 2024, near a water source, and reported to the Forest Products Commission (FPC) and Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions, and I ask: (a) what is the current status of the investigation into the finding of these drums; (b) what ongoing investigations are occurring; (c) what actions have been taken, to date, in relation to this issue; (d) what further, or future, actions are planned; and (e) please provide the report of the investigation into this issue?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 May 2025
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food; Fisheries; Forestry; Small Business; Mid West
Response time
6 days
(a-e)
The FPC’s internal investigation on this matter has concluded and there are no further investigations occurring.
Key findings of the investigation are:
- A member of the public located the empty chemical drums on 10/08/2024
- The last contracted firebreak maintenance that utilises these chemicals occurred in September 2023.
- FPC Officers conduct regular inspections of the site and did not locate the drums. This indicates it is unlikely the drums were from the activities in September 2023 and that the drums were not in this location for a significant period of time.
- It is plausible the drums were dumped by an external party between site inspections.
- This is the first occasion this situation has occurred on an FPC managed site.
The FPC has reaffirmed procedures for contractor supervision and the monitoring of chemical spraying operations. An Environmental Alert was communicated to staff and contractors highlighting key points associated with the management of chemical spraying operations.
The FPC’s internal investigation on this matter has concluded and there are no further investigations occurring.
Key findings of the investigation are:
- A member of the public located the empty chemical drums on 10/08/2024
- The last contracted firebreak maintenance that utilises these chemicals occurred in September 2023.
- FPC Officers conduct regular inspections of the site and did not locate the drums. This indicates it is unlikely the drums were from the activities in September 2023 and that the drums were not in this location for a significant period of time.
- It is plausible the drums were dumped by an external party between site inspections.
- This is the first occasion this situation has occurred on an FPC managed site.
The FPC has reaffirmed procedures for contractor supervision and the monitoring of chemical spraying operations. An Environmental Alert was communicated to staff and contractors highlighting key points associated with the management of chemical spraying operations.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.