❓ Mr. Nalder asks about the Liberal-National government's actions regarding oxygen levels in the Swan and Canning Rivers. The Minister for Environment responds, highlighting improvements in river health and the upcoming installation of a new oxygenation plant.
AnsweredQoN 63Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN AND CANNING RIVERS — OXYGEN LEVELS
63. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to comments by the member
for Gosnells who, during his response to the Premier's Statement last
week, referred to oxygen levels in the Swan and Canning Rivers.
Can the minister please update the
house on what the Liberal–National government is doing in relation to
oxygenation in these rivers, especially the Canning River, which borders my
electorate?
63. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to comments by the member
for Gosnells who, during his response to the Premier's Statement last
week, referred to oxygen levels in the Swan and Canning Rivers.
Can the minister please update the
house on what the Liberal–National government is doing in relation to
oxygenation in these rivers, especially the Canning River, which borders my
electorate?
AnswerView source ↗
I would like to thank the member for
Alfred Cove for that question. At the outset, I will say, categorically, that
the Swan and Canning River systems are not dead. Contrary to some of the public
commentary there may have been in this area, our river systems are not dead.
They face a range —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : We have had three people interject. Minister, continue.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : They face a range of historic stresses, however I can happily
say that the river system's health has been steadily improving in
recent years, and as it stands it is actually in quite good health. I think the
member for Gosnells made a few salient points about the health of the Swan
River and asked some very valid questions, as he did today in the petition he
presented to this house asking for action to stop crippling algal blooms, low
oxygen levels, and fish and dolphin deaths amongst other things. I am very
happy to report to those petitioners that the Liberal–National
government is doing a lot in this space and I would like to give the house a
brief update. I have brought one of these charts in before; but this is the
most recent chart for the Swan and Canning Rivers management system,
particularly the Canning River. I draw members' attention to the top
image; here we have the estuarine systems, which are salt water, and then the
brown system that is the fresh water upstream from the Kent Street Weir. I draw
members' attention to these two graphs that show oxygenation levels in
the Canning River system—blue is good, it is high levels of oxygen, and
the redder it gets the more we have a problem. The member for Gosnells noted in
his speech—members will notice it straightaway on the second chart,
which is a close-up of the first chart—that upstream from the Kent
Street Weir, where there is a glaring area of red, there is significant
depletion of oxygen in the Canning River system. It is important to note that
it is the peak of summer, there have been 85-odd days without rain, but the
river is holding up fairly well except for this area. A big part of the reason
for that is the two oxygenation plants. I need to pay tribute to the Deputy Premier
who, when Minister for Water, instigated the oxygenation plant scheme when it
was only theoretical, and brought in the two oxygenation plants that give a
good level of oxygen saturation. I am very happy to report to the house that,
starting next month, the next oxygenation plant, which has the latest
technology, will be installed right here at this point.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the second time.
Minister, I think we have had a look at those charts; carry on, please.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : As I said, we are directing our resources and what needs to be
done directly at the greatest point of need in the first instance, and those
works will start shortly. It is over $1 million for the new oxygenation plant,
and it will saturate that 2.2-kilometre stretch of the Canning River that is
clearly in the greatest need.
The Liberal–National
government values this iconic asset very highly. In the Perth metropolitan area
there is no greater environmental icon than the Swan and Canning River
catchment area. These oxygenation plants are only one tool among many, and they
are making a big difference in preventing fish deaths, helping keep algal
blooms down and increasing the riparian health of the river system. I am very
happy to report to the house in future if members have any queries about how
the river is going. I would love to have the opportunity to report back when
the new oxygenation plant is at Nicholson Road Bridge.
Alfred Cove for that question. At the outset, I will say, categorically, that
the Swan and Canning River systems are not dead. Contrary to some of the public
commentary there may have been in this area, our river systems are not dead.
They face a range —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : We have had three people interject. Minister, continue.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : They face a range of historic stresses, however I can happily
say that the river system's health has been steadily improving in
recent years, and as it stands it is actually in quite good health. I think the
member for Gosnells made a few salient points about the health of the Swan
River and asked some very valid questions, as he did today in the petition he
presented to this house asking for action to stop crippling algal blooms, low
oxygen levels, and fish and dolphin deaths amongst other things. I am very
happy to report to those petitioners that the Liberal–National
government is doing a lot in this space and I would like to give the house a
brief update. I have brought one of these charts in before; but this is the
most recent chart for the Swan and Canning Rivers management system,
particularly the Canning River. I draw members' attention to the top
image; here we have the estuarine systems, which are salt water, and then the
brown system that is the fresh water upstream from the Kent Street Weir. I draw
members' attention to these two graphs that show oxygenation levels in
the Canning River system—blue is good, it is high levels of oxygen, and
the redder it gets the more we have a problem. The member for Gosnells noted in
his speech—members will notice it straightaway on the second chart,
which is a close-up of the first chart—that upstream from the Kent
Street Weir, where there is a glaring area of red, there is significant
depletion of oxygen in the Canning River system. It is important to note that
it is the peak of summer, there have been 85-odd days without rain, but the
river is holding up fairly well except for this area. A big part of the reason
for that is the two oxygenation plants. I need to pay tribute to the Deputy Premier
who, when Minister for Water, instigated the oxygenation plant scheme when it
was only theoretical, and brought in the two oxygenation plants that give a
good level of oxygen saturation. I am very happy to report to the house that,
starting next month, the next oxygenation plant, which has the latest
technology, will be installed right here at this point.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the second time.
Minister, I think we have had a look at those charts; carry on, please.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : As I said, we are directing our resources and what needs to be
done directly at the greatest point of need in the first instance, and those
works will start shortly. It is over $1 million for the new oxygenation plant,
and it will saturate that 2.2-kilometre stretch of the Canning River that is
clearly in the greatest need.
The Liberal–National
government values this iconic asset very highly. In the Perth metropolitan area
there is no greater environmental icon than the Swan and Canning River
catchment area. These oxygenation plants are only one tool among many, and they
are making a big difference in preventing fish deaths, helping keep algal
blooms down and increasing the riparian health of the river system. I am very
happy to report to the house in future if members have any queries about how
the river is going. I would love to have the opportunity to report back when
the new oxygenation plant is at Nicholson Road Bridge.
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