❓ A parliamentary question regarding gas-like odours in Rockingham and Mandurah in August 2016, seeking information on the substance, source, and outcome of investigations. The response details the findings of investigations into three separate incidents.
AnsweredQoN 5638Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to investigations involving the Department of Environmental Regulation into a strong gas-like odour which enveloped parts of Rockingham and Mandurah during the first week of August, and ask: (a) what was the nature or composition of the substance which caused the odour; (b) was a source identified and, if so, what was the source; and (c) what was the outcome of the investigation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 September 2016
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
28 days
The Department of Environment Regulation (DER) is aware of two separate gas-like odour incidents that affected different parts of the Rockingham area on 2 and 3 August 2016 and one in the Halls Head-Mandurah area on 3 August 2016.
(a) The exact nature and composition of the substances that caused the odours in Rockingham is not known. The Halls Head-Mandurah odour was caused by natural gas.
(b) The source of the Rockingham odour on 2 August was not identified. The source of the Rockingham odour on 3 August was suspected of being from the venting of an oil storage tank on a ship that was moored in Cockburn Sound. The source of the Halls Head-Mandurah odour on 3 August was a damaged natural gas pipe.
(c) The outcomes of the investigations are:
- The 2 August Rockingham odour investigation is closed, however, if there are further incidents, DER will investigate.
- The 3 August Rockingham odour investigation resulted in Fremantle Ports contacting the BP Refinery regarding the importance of compliance with the existing procedure requiring advance notice to the Port if a ship needs to vent to relieve vapour pressure, so that the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) can be advised.
- The 3 August Halls Head-Mandurah odour incident was not investigated by DER as it was managed by other agencies (DFES and ATCO gas).
(a) The exact nature and composition of the substances that caused the odours in Rockingham is not known. The Halls Head-Mandurah odour was caused by natural gas.
(b) The source of the Rockingham odour on 2 August was not identified. The source of the Rockingham odour on 3 August was suspected of being from the venting of an oil storage tank on a ship that was moored in Cockburn Sound. The source of the Halls Head-Mandurah odour on 3 August was a damaged natural gas pipe.
(c) The outcomes of the investigations are:
- The 2 August Rockingham odour investigation is closed, however, if there are further incidents, DER will investigate.
- The 3 August Rockingham odour investigation resulted in Fremantle Ports contacting the BP Refinery regarding the importance of compliance with the existing procedure requiring advance notice to the Port if a ship needs to vent to relieve vapour pressure, so that the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) can be advised.
- The 3 August Halls Head-Mandurah odour incident was not investigated by DER as it was managed by other agencies (DFES and ATCO gas).
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