❓ Question regarding sewage discharge into Lake Joondalup following a pump failure, focusing on containment, responsibility, and environmental impact. Minister's response confirms overflow but denies adverse health impacts.
AnsweredQoN 198Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER QUALITY — LAKE JOONDALUP
198. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to the discharge of sewage
following the failure of the Ariti Avenue pumping station referred to yesterday
by the member for Bassendean.
(1) Did the minister not just put a
few cubic metres of soil and fill over the contaminated area?
(2) How was the
sewage contained so that it could not spill into Lake Joondalup, and how can
the minister be sure that that did not occur?
(3) What action
has been taken against the Water Corporation's contractor for allowing
the discharge and failing to respect documented pump failure contingency plans?
198. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to the discharge of sewage
following the failure of the Ariti Avenue pumping station referred to yesterday
by the member for Bassendean.
(1) Did the minister not just put a
few cubic metres of soil and fill over the contaminated area?
(2) How was the
sewage contained so that it could not spill into Lake Joondalup, and how can
the minister be sure that that did not occur?
(3) What action
has been taken against the Water Corporation's contractor for allowing
the discharge and failing to respect documented pump failure contingency plans?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
thought the Minister for Water gave quite a comprehensive answer to the issue.
But if we are going to continue with this particular issue, I advise the member
that the Department of Environment and Conservation was advised, as
appropriate, on 15 November.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire : Only advised? So it wasn't involved.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I am about one sentence into my answer, member; let me finish.
I will give the member a proper answer, and I will let him know what has
happened from the point of view of the Department of Environment and
Conservation. Not only was the Department of Environment and Conservation
advised, but also the Department of Health and the City of Joondalup were
advised. The Department of Environment and Conservation went on to request that
the Water Corporation submit a section 72 notice under the Environmental
Protection Act 1986. The Department of Environment and Conservation has
conducted an investigation into this matter, and no action has resulted from
this investigation as it was determined that the pump failure happened as a
result of a bushfire, as the member outlined in the earlier question. Water
Corp's contractors, using contracted septic trucks to remove the waste,
were unable to keep up with the discharge, as the member has outlined, and
there was some overflow to the lake, as has been identified.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : No,
no, no.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! The Hansard reporter cannot report the minister's answer.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Substantially, the Department of Environment and Conservation has tested the
lake and it has tested the waters. I can confirm that, from our end, no adverse
health impacts have happened as a result of the incident.
thought the Minister for Water gave quite a comprehensive answer to the issue.
But if we are going to continue with this particular issue, I advise the member
that the Department of Environment and Conservation was advised, as
appropriate, on 15 November.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire : Only advised? So it wasn't involved.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I am about one sentence into my answer, member; let me finish.
I will give the member a proper answer, and I will let him know what has
happened from the point of view of the Department of Environment and
Conservation. Not only was the Department of Environment and Conservation
advised, but also the Department of Health and the City of Joondalup were
advised. The Department of Environment and Conservation went on to request that
the Water Corporation submit a section 72 notice under the Environmental
Protection Act 1986. The Department of Environment and Conservation has
conducted an investigation into this matter, and no action has resulted from
this investigation as it was determined that the pump failure happened as a
result of a bushfire, as the member outlined in the earlier question. Water
Corp's contractors, using contracted septic trucks to remove the waste,
were unable to keep up with the discharge, as the member has outlined, and
there was some overflow to the lake, as has been identified.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : No,
no, no.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! The Hansard reporter cannot report the minister's answer.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Substantially, the Department of Environment and Conservation has tested the
lake and it has tested the waters. I can confirm that, from our end, no adverse
health impacts have happened as a result of the incident.
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