❓ Question regarding the long-term impacts of the Port Mandurah Marina dewatering on groundwater salinity and monitoring efforts by various agencies. The answers indicate a lack of ongoing monitoring and record-keeping.
AnsweredQoN 1690Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) The canal housing development called Port Mandurah Marina project, at Halls Head, involved dewatering between 1997 to 2003. During that period, and until 2004, the salt content of residents' garden bores in the vicinity increased to over 5000 Mg/Litre (TDS) in some cases. Does the Minister know if the water has returned to normal? (2) Has the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) monitored the salinity in the superficial aquifer in order to determine whether or not water quality has returned to normal since 2004? (3) Has the EPA required the City of Mandurah, Cedar Woods or any other agency to monitor this water quality? (4) If yes to (3), what are the results? (5) What records do the Department of Water and the City of Mandurah have covering the period from 2004 to the present day, that show levels of salt (either using total dissolved solids or electro-conductivity measures) in the superficial aquifer in the vicinity of the following streets; McLarty, Leisure Way, Tallwood, Sandalwood, Leyburn, Hungerford, Glencoe, Nelson, Arundel, Fairfield, Dale, McMahon, and Carina? (6) What records exist showing the long-term effects of dewatering on superficial groundwater quality? (7) If none to (6), why not? (8) What records exist of salinity in groundwater from other similar developments, such as the Port Geographe Marina and the Canals at Mariners Cove? (9) If none to (8), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Water
Response time
56 days
(1) No.
(2) No. This is not a function of the Environmental Protection Authority.
(3) No. As part of the public environmental review process, the proponent committed to monitoring the impacts of the canals upon groundwater abstracted at nearby residential properties and take remedial action if required to the satisfaction of the City of Mandurah. This was an obligation of the proponent to the City of Mandurah and not a formal requirement of the environmental approval.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) None.
(6) None.
(7) The Department of Water's records for water level and salinity relate to the period the water licence for the development was in force (prior to 2004).
(8) No records are held by the Department of Water for Port Geographe Marina as no licence was issued. Daily salinity records are held for Mariners Cove for the period of dewatering (approximately 45 days).
(9) As per 8 above.
(2) No. This is not a function of the Environmental Protection Authority.
(3) No. As part of the public environmental review process, the proponent committed to monitoring the impacts of the canals upon groundwater abstracted at nearby residential properties and take remedial action if required to the satisfaction of the City of Mandurah. This was an obligation of the proponent to the City of Mandurah and not a formal requirement of the environmental approval.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) None.
(6) None.
(7) The Department of Water's records for water level and salinity relate to the period the water licence for the development was in force (prior to 2004).
(8) No records are held by the Department of Water for Port Geographe Marina as no licence was issued. Daily salinity records are held for Mariners Cove for the period of dewatering (approximately 45 days).
(9) As per 8 above.
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