A parliamentary question addresses nitrogen fertiliser use and nutrient export into the Swan River from the Bayswater main drain sub-catchment. The response provides data on nitrogen export but lacks specific figures on fertiliser application and a timeline for achieving water quality targets.

AnsweredQoN 1006Legislative Council
Asked
24 November 2010
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

BAYSWATER MAIN DRAIN SUB-CATCHMENT — NITROGEN NUTRIENTS
I refer to the Bayswater main drain sub-catchment of the Swan River. (1) How many tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser were applied to land in the sub-catchment in 2008–09 and 2009–10? (2) How many tonnes of nitrogen nutrient were exported to the Swan River in 2008–09 and 2009–10? (3) When will the Bayswater main drain water quality improvement plan target of four tonnes per year net export of total nitrogen to the Swan River be achieved? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The minister is advised by the Swan River Trust that it is difficult to accurately determine the number of tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser applied to lands in Bayswater main drain. However, the government is committed to reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways. The Liberal–National government has allocated $3.29 million for the implementation of the Swan and Canning water quality improvement plan, in addition to $1.1 million for testing low soluble water fertilisers and soil amendments. (2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
(1) How many tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser were applied to land in the sub-catchment in 2008–09 and 2009–10? (2) How many tonnes of nitrogen nutrient were exported to the Swan River in 2008–09 and 2009–10? (3) When will the Bayswater main drain water quality improvement plan target of four tonnes per year net export of total nitrogen to the Swan River be achieved? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The minister is advised by the Swan River Trust that it is difficult to accurately determine the number of tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser applied to lands in Bayswater main drain. However, the government is committed to reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways. The Liberal–National government has allocated $3.29 million for the implementation of the Swan and Canning water quality improvement plan, in addition to $1.1 million for testing low soluble water fertilisers and soil amendments. (2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
(2) How many tonnes of nitrogen nutrient were exported to the Swan River in 2008–09 and 2009–10? (3) When will the Bayswater main drain water quality improvement plan target of four tonnes per year net export of total nitrogen to the Swan River be achieved? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The minister is advised by the Swan River Trust that it is difficult to accurately determine the number of tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser applied to lands in Bayswater main drain. However, the government is committed to reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways. The Liberal–National government has allocated $3.29 million for the implementation of the Swan and Canning water quality improvement plan, in addition to $1.1 million for testing low soluble water fertilisers and soil amendments. (2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
(3) When will the Bayswater main drain water quality improvement plan target of four tonnes per year net export of total nitrogen to the Swan River be achieved? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The minister is advised by the Swan River Trust that it is difficult to accurately determine the number of tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser applied to lands in Bayswater main drain. However, the government is committed to reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways. The Liberal–National government has allocated $3.29 million for the implementation of the Swan and Canning water quality improvement plan, in addition to $1.1 million for testing low soluble water fertilisers and soil amendments. (2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The minister is advised by the Swan River Trust that it is difficult to accurately determine the number of tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser applied to lands in Bayswater main drain. However, the government is committed to reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways. The Liberal–National government has allocated $3.29 million for the implementation of the Swan and Canning water quality improvement plan, in addition to $1.1 million for testing low soluble water fertilisers and soil amendments. (2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The minister is advised by the Swan River Trust that it is difficult to accurately determine the number of tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser applied to lands in Bayswater main drain. However, the government is committed to reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways. The Liberal–National government has allocated $3.29 million for the implementation of the Swan and Canning water quality improvement plan, in addition to $1.1 million for testing low soluble water fertilisers and soil amendments. (2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
(1) The minister is advised by the Swan River Trust that it is difficult to accurately determine the number of tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser applied to lands in Bayswater main drain. However, the government is committed to reducing nutrient run-off into our waterways. The Liberal–National government has allocated $3.29 million for the implementation of the Swan and Canning water quality improvement plan, in addition to $1.1 million for testing low soluble water fertilisers and soil amendments. (2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
(2) In 2008–09, 14 tonnes; and in 2009–10, 10 tonnes. (3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.
(3) The minister is advised that the four tonnes of total nitrogen is a long-term target that requires continued on-ground action over several decades to reduce the input of nutrients and contaminants from entering our river systems. The government remains firmly committed to ensuring a wide range of programs are being delivered to restore and protect the health of our rivers.

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