Mrs Edwardes questions the Water Corporation's spill reporting practices and seeks an audit of all spills, including unreported ones. The Minister denies the need for an audit, stating satisfaction with current reporting of potentially polluting spills.

AnsweredQoN 2335Legislative Assembly
Asked
3 December 2003
Portfolio
the Environment

QuestionView source ↗

(b) by the answer to question on notice No. 1881, is the Minister suggesting that the Water Corporation has the sole power to determine if a spill will enter the environment or cause contamination, before reporting to the EPA; (c) with recent changes to legislation, which may see the Water Corporation fined for spills, will the Minister ensure that the Water Corporation will report all spills to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA); (d) will the Minister now instigate an audit of all spills, including the reported average 800 unreported spills, so that a proper assessment of Water Corporation can be undertaken; and (e) if not, why not?
(c) with recent changes to legislation, which may see the Water Corporation fined for spills, will the Minister ensure that the Water Corporation will report all spills to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA); (d) will the Minister now instigate an audit of all spills, including the reported average 800 unreported spills, so that a proper assessment of Water Corporation can be undertaken; and (e) if not, why not?
(d) will the Minister now instigate an audit of all spills, including the reported average 800 unreported spills, so that a proper assessment of Water Corporation can be undertaken; and (e) if not, why not?
(e) if not, why not?
(c) The Water Corporation is required, under Section 72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , to report spills in accordance with the agreed parameters which I have tabled (answer b). (d-e) No. I am satisfied that all detected spills that have a potential to cause pollution are being reported.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 December 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
13 days
(a-b) No. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sets the parameters for reporting, which were tabled in response to your previous question and I seek leave to table this information again.
(c) The Water Corporation is required, under Section 72 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
, to report spills in accordance with the agreed parameters which I have tabled (answer b).
(d-e) No. I am satisfied that all detected spills that have a potential to cause pollution are being reported.

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